LORD Montagu of Beaulieu hosted a lunch for former Daily Echo journalist Peter East to mark his retirement from the paper after 37 years.

Peter, who was accompanied by his wife Pat was presented with a framed picture of the Beaulieu Estate by Lord Montagu.

The lunch took place at Palace House, Lord Montagu's ancestral home on the edge of the village.

The peer thanked Peter for his faithful reporting of Beaulieu during the 17 years he spent at the Daily Echo's New Forest office.