IDENTICAL twins celebrated their 70th birthday by following a family fishing tradition.

Mary Passey and her sister Betty Jones marked the milestone with a fishing trip to Cob House Farm, off the Martley Road, a pond managed by the Worcester and District United Anglers Association.

Mrs Passey, of Gloucester Road, Welland, the elder twin by 20 minutes, says she is the outgoing one, while Mrs Jones, of Howard Road, Dines Green, Worcester, says she is more of a joker.

The twins, who were born in Severn Stoke in 1937, were joined by their sister Margaret Stankovich, aged 66, and her granddaughter Issabella, aged four, as they celebrated their big day on Wednesday.

Twins run in the family. Their younger brother Robert has 30-year-old twin sons, Stuart and Sean.

Mary and Betty are keen anglers, following in the tradition of their late father Norman Fassnidge, a secretary and later a president of Severn Stoke Angling Club.

Mrs Passey, a former nurse, said: "My mother started fishing in 1973. She said If you can't beat them, join them'. It was so that she could spend more time with my dad."

Mrs Jones has 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren and Mrs Passey has 11 grandchildren.

Both worked together in their late teens at Worcester Royal Porcelain as casters making vases, then Mrs Jones became a nanny and Mrs Passey a nurse.