A hygiene operator at Taunton-based manufacturer Ministry of Cake has celebrated 30 years of working for the company.

Patrick Cridland said the company was part of his “family” as he was photographed tucking into a special celebration chocolate cake.

“It’s gone so quickly I didn’t really realise,” he said. “I have made some great friends along the way and I’ve had a really happy time here.”

MD of Ministry of Cake Chris Ormrod described Cridland as “one of the most cheerful people” that he had met.

“In a world where people measure their work time in months and sometimes years, to go beyond 10 years is a start, to go beyond 20 is quite something but to get beyond 30 is a phenomenal achievement” he said.

This weekend, Ormrod will share his success story at the Bread & Butter festival at the Institute of Directors in London.