BURY'S mayoral driver who was brutally attacked during the robbery of the £200,000 civic chains has taken voluntary early retirement.

Jet Vyas has reluctantly taken the decision after what he described as a "life changing" moment which left him with a fractured shoulder blade a year ago.

He was hit with a hammer as he was putting a briefcase, containing the chains, into the boot of a car in Stonemere Drive, Radcliffe.

Earlier, the then mayor, Cllr Michelle Wiseman and deputy mayor, Cllr Sharon Briggs, had attended an engagement in the town. Despite extensive police investigations and a £10,000 reward for the recovery of the regalia, the chains have not been found.

Mr Vyas was attacked by a masked man who, after seizing the case, jumped into a waiting car which sped off

Now, after being on sick leave since the incident, the 57-year-old has left Bury Council which he had served for 28 years.

He said: "I really loved the job. But what happened that night last October changed my life. I'm still receiving treatment. Not only that, but I am experiencing flashbacks and nightmares. It has also affected my confidence and I can only go out at nights with friends or family."

But he admitted he had not felt up to visiting restaurants with fellow members of Bury Curry Club since the attack.

He continued: "It was a hard decision to take voluntary early retirement but there is no way I can continue after what happened. It was the longest and the worst night of my life. It has really affected me quite badly.

"I've been overwhelmed by the number of good wishes, cards and texts that I've received from the people of Bury," added Mr Vyas, who lives in the town.

He began his career with Bury Council nearly three decades ago, starting in the authority's cash office. In 1993, he was awarded a special police commendation after helping officers detain an armed robber following a hold-up at a Prestwich bank.

Later, Mr Vyas served with the council's traffic department before being appointed the mayor's driver 12 years ago.

He added: "I've thoroughly enjoyed the job, meeting people from various organisations, working with new mayors, attending Royal functions and representing the council."

Cllr Stella Smith, the Mayor of Bury, said: “Jet has been a wonderful mayoral attendant and I know that every mayor that he served found him to be dedicated, conscientious and a tremendous help to us all.

"Jet took his work very seriously and always went above and beyond to make sure that the borough of Bury was represented in the best possible way at a whole variety of functions. We will miss him a great deal and wish him well for the future.”

* In June, BBC One's Crimewatch Roadshow featured a reconstruction of the robbery. The stolen briefcase contained the mayor’s chain, known as the Bury chain, which is worth £200,000. Also taken was the mayoress' chain, extremely rare and just one of five made, which was given as a gift to the town by Queen Victoria in 1877.