LONG serving hospital workers Walter Reed and Granville Hargreaves have made sure two generations of Blackburn residents have got well and truly plastered, by patching up 30,000 broken bones.

The retiring plastering technicians have patched thousands of cracked limbs in Blackburn over the past two decades.

In the last few years the pair have started to see a second generation of broken bones, as youngsters whose parents were also put back together by the two have been treated by them.

Walter, who celebrates his 65th birthday this weekend, has worked in the plastering room for 15 years and been on the infirmary staff for more thaan 24.

His colleague Granville, 65 in two weeks, started work in the plastering room 22 years ago. The pair, both from Accrington, have worked together daily for more than 15 years, plastering an average of 12 bones a day.

Walter said: "It is so nice when the parents remember us. We have had quite a few children coming in whose parents say they recall us treating them."

Granville said: "It is the parents you have to look out for. The children come and think it's exciting,. They don't think about pain, until the parents mention it. They say 'will it hurt him?' and suddenly the child starts to think about it."

Walter added: "We usually say to them, if you liked the service why don't you come back in six to eight weeks? Of course, they have to anyway. But we always say if you enjoyed it, come back."

The highlight of their time was the visit in 1980 to the newly-opened A&E unit by Princess Anne, whom they described as a "very nice girl" and "very attractive".

Despite working closely day in, day out the pair have never had a fall out. Granville said: "We have got on very well working together. If you don't like the job, you shouldn't do it, and you have to like the people you work with too."

The popular pair were seen off with a party and presentation of dozens of gifts and cards from staff at the infirmary restaurant.