THREE members of staff at Kendal building contractor Cox & Allen have celebrated a combined 50 years of service.

Joint managing director Gary Davis has worked for the company for 25 years and he received a diving watch in recognition of his long service. Mr Davis has recently taken up scuba diving with the Kendal and Lakes Sub-Aqua Club. He has also been a member of Kendal Judo Club for nearly 30 years, and is club chairman and a trustee.

Michael Leahy, also joint managing director, was awarded an engraved crystal tankard for working at the company since 1987. His hobbies include walking, cycling and digital photography.

Raymond Parkes was presented with an engraved crystal tankard after completing ten years driving the company tipper. He owns two horses and travels all over the world pursuing his hobby of three-day eventing.

Cox and Allen was founded as a partnership in 1964 by Brian Cox and Frances Allen to carry out stone-walling on roads being built or improved in the area at that time.

The firm later branched out by carrying out a full range of building works throughout Cumbria and north Lancashire from two separate bases one in Morland, run by Mr Allen, and the Kendal office, headed by Mr Cox.

In 1980, Mr Cox bought out his partner and two years later the business became incorporated as Cox & Allen (Kendal) Ltd. The firm moved to its present location on the Shap Road industrial estate in 1985.

Construction projects currently being built by the firm include a new retail unit at Blackhall Road, Kendal; homes for Eden Housing Association; and new offices at Preston.

Among recently completed work is a new learning resource centre for St Martin's College, Ambleside. Costing more than £2 million, the development is the company's largest project to date.