A LEADING Lancashire property and development company's two longest serving employees have been given a loyalty bonus to remember.

Machine drivers and construction foremen Alan Balshaw and David Jordan have both been presented with Ford Mondeo estate cars from their bosses Stephen and Trevor Ashworth at the Rossendale and Preston-based Hurstwood Group.

Both Alan and David have both with the company for more than 20 years, with Alan being their longest serving employee.

Stephen Ashworth, Hurstwood Group managing director, said: "They are not only colleagues but friends too.

"We wanted to do something special for them as a reward for all the years of hard work they have put in for Hurstwood.

"They are both a credit to the company and thoroughly deserve this. Hurstwood would not be where it is today without people like Alan and David."

Alan and David worked alongside the Hurstwood founder, the late John Ashworth and subsequently with Stephen and Trevor in the company's early days and all were great friends.

Stephen added: "The pair are not planning to retire just yet and we are hoping that they will stay with us for some time to come." The loyal pair were handed the keys to their new cars at a ceremony at Hurstwood's head office at Newhallhey Business Village, Rawtenstall.

Hurstwood was highly commended in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's 2003 Company of the Year Award.