Pinner Synagogue's Rabbi Yaakov Grunewald - the United Synagogue's longest-serving rabbi - is to retire in October after 35 years' service.

Addressing the shul's AGM, Pinner chairman Howard Lewis said: "For the vast majority of members, he is the only rabbi they have known. The Pinner community is indebted to the rabbi for his communal input, his humility and his efforts over the years to ensure the community has remained vibrant and unified."

Rabbi Grunewald said it had been "a pleasure and privilege to lead the Pinner community from very modest beginnings to the present day when it is a large, thriving and peaceful community with its own kindergarten, school, youth centre and a modern shul building with lots of facilities."

Pinner has over 1,000 members from more than 600 households. The search for Rabbi Grunewald's successor will begin shortly.