SALFORD Priors twins Robert and Peter Elvins will retire next Friday (July 21) after completing 100 years of work between them at the same village firm.

The twins, from School Road, first joined Bomford Turner Ltd, an agricultural, horticultural hedgecutters and mowers company, at the age of 15, shortly after leaving school.

They were following in the footsteps of their father, Ernie, who worked there as a roller driver after leaving the mines.

Robert, 64, the older of the twins, currently works from 5am until 1.30pm as a shotblaster. He welds pieces of metal together before the machinery goes off to be painted.

Younger brother Peter, who has worked shifts for the past five years, works from 1.30pm until 10pm, also as a shotblaster.

Both are looking forward to retiring to pursue their hobbies.

Robert said: "I like gardening so I'll be spending my retirement days doing that. I'll also be celebrating my birthday next Sunday. I work as a volunteer for the St John Ambulance in Evesham, so I shall be volunteering my services to them."

Peter, who enjoys walking and vintage steam rallies, will actually celebrate his birthday on the Monday, being born just the other side of midnight.

"I don't have anything planned as yet for our retirement but I think my mates from the pub in Wixford will probably do something to mark the occasion", he said.

Tim Coleridge, general manager at Bomford Turner, said: "Each year we see many staff receiving long-service awards for 30 and 40 years but this is the first award for 50 years.

"It's a fantastic achievement for the Elvins twins. As employers we're delighted to have such brand loyalty.

"The whole staff at Bomford wish the brothers a well-earned retirement."

Managing director Geoffrey Davies will present the twins with an award commemorating their work tomorrow (Friday).