A DEDICATED charity chairman has been thanked for more than five years of service.

Mervyn Harris received a special presentation as he attended his last annual general meeting as chairman of West Dorset Mencap.

After five-and-a-half years in the role he received a letter from the national Mencap charity thanking him for his tireless work and the committee presented him with a cake and gift vouchers.

During his time in the post Mervyn set up a group for Mid Dorset to cover the Weymouth, Dorchester and Purbeck area.

He is also in the process of opening a charity shop with a difference in Dorchester – an ebay shop.