RETIRED firefighter Jack Bowcutt celebrated his 80th birthday in style last Saturday.

He was having a drink at the New Inn, Lower Howsell Road, when, much to his surprise, he was whisked off in a fire engine.

Mr Bowcutt was taken to Malvern Fire Station where family, friends and colleagues were waiting to welcome him to a party.

The surprise fire engine ride was the brainchild of his granddaughter Kelly Appleton, who shares his birthday.

Kelly was born on her granddad's 50th birthday, so she celebrates her 30th the same day as his 80th - an ideal reason for a double party.

Mr Bowcutt was a firefighter at Malvern from November 1965 until his retirement in 1979. He joined up after leaving the Royal Marines.

"We only had the basic kit then, none of your fancy equipment," he recalled.

Mr Bowcutt was often away for days at a time when the fire brigade was dealing with the huge fires that broke out on the hills.

He also remembers an incident when the firefighters were pumping water out of a pond at Barnards Green to fill their tanks, when someone left the handbrake off. The fire engine rolled into the pond and the army had to be called to pull it out.

"I'd just like to say a big thank-you to everyone at the fire station for making this party possible," said Kelly, who works at the district council's contact centre at the library.

Mr Bowcutt is now hoping to organise a reunion of former firefighters, with a view to holding another party. Anyone interested should contact him on 01886 833192.