POPULAR Bridgwater teacher and Ironman triathlete Mal Adams will is set to sound the bell on his teaching career after three decades.

Chilton Trinity teacher Mr Adams, 67, will retire this term after 30 years of teaching and after huge success in the world of triathlon. 

The inspirational teacher finished 26th in the world representing Great Britain in a triathlon event in Mexico last year to cap off a host of achievements while at the school.

Now he will spend three months in the New Year in southern Spain training for the Great Britain Triathlon Team. In September he will be racing on the Gold Coast, Australia for Team GB.

Mr Adams has most recently been a teacher in the school’s SEN department and has been a design and technology teacher in Bridgwater and Taunton for many years.

Headteacher Lesley Greenway said: "Mal is a popular member of the teaching staff and he will be very missed.”