FIFTY years of work and not one day off! Incredible! But for Leyland grandad that is his remarkable employment record.

And now you could say Keith Fairhurst, of St Anne's Road, Farington, deserves some time off.

But instead Keith, who officially retired from a Chorley printing firm on December 20, came in the very next day to help his former colleagues get ready for the holidays!

Keith, who will be 65 later this month, has retired from Haslam Printers after 38 years full attendance.

He previously spent ten years at Ley Print, at the Seven Stars, Leyland, but never had a day off there either.

Keith, who is married to Judy, 60, has not avoided the everyday colds and sore throats which we all get but says they have never been able to damper his enthusiasm for work.

He said: "I don't know how I've done it -- but I have kept my health.

"If you let yourself get old you will get old, but if you keep yourself active and feeling young you will stay young."

Keith keeps himself fit by swimming and being a batsman for both Withnell Cricket Club and for Haslam Printers Cricket Club.

After leaving school at 15 Keith started work at Ley Print, in Leyland, in 1950 where he worked for nine years on the hot metal prints. In 1959 he served the army for two years in Malaya and Germany with the Loyal Lancashire Regiment which he left as a corporal.

He spent a further 12 months at Leyland Printers and joined Haslam Printers in 1963.

Thirty-eight years later and the 100 per cent attendance record is still intact.

David Haslam managing director of Haslam Printers said: "He is a tremendous guy to have around, very enthusiastic and kind. He is a model employee and will be missed by everybody here on a personal level."

Now Keith is looking forward to spending time with his wife, his one-year-old grandson Ethan and his children Susan, 38 and Paul, 37.

That is if he can keep from going back to work!