A WORCESTERSHIRE law firm is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Painters, of Church Street, Kidderminster, and also of New Street, Stourport-on-Severn, is celebrating 50 years since the firm was founded.

Previously part of Talbot & Painter, Painter & Son set up as a separate office, originally in Bridge Street, Stourport on Severn, in 1952.

This was followed in 1955 by the opening of an office in Kidderminster.

"In those days the partners were Colonel RWA Painter and his two sons, John and Robert," said a spokesman for the company.

"Carrying on in the family tradition, John's son Richard is now the senior partner in the firm and Robert's son, William, manages the Stourport office, which has since moved to New Street, Stourport-on-Severn."

The firm has expanded in recent years, with nine partners in all - six in Kidderminster and three in Stourport.

There are also three consultants: Robert Painter, Charles Talbot - a descendent of the Talbot family with whom the Painters were originally in partnership - and Jonathan Dollin, whose firm merged with Painters in 1999.

The firm covers most aspects of legal expertise including conveyancing, landlord and tenant, family, crime, civil and commercial litigation, personal injury and tax and probate.