Moray Council twin workers toast century of service

Two brothers who work for Moray Council have been honoured for a combined century of service to the local authority.

John and Billy Grant have between them 100 years of service for the local authority

Twins Billy and John Grant, 67, both started working in the roads department on April 9 1963.

Moray Council believe they are the longest serving local authority employees anywhere in the United Kingdom.

The brothers both started work at 17 and have no plans to retire

Neither brother has any immediate plans to retire.

Council convener Stewart Cree described the occasion as "unprecedented".

"In all my experience I have not heard of a single person completing 50 years of council service, let alone brothers - and let alone twin brothers," said the convener.

Both men took up their posts after applying for a position their father saw advertised in the local paper.

The pair started work for what was then called Moray and Nairn Joint County Council based at the Dava depot, with their starting wage £3 and 10 shillings for a six-day week.

The pair still work in Dava on the border between what is now Highland and Moray Council areas.

Initially working on road maintenance, the brothers then became part of the team who kept Moray's roads clear of snow during the winter.

Billy Grant said: "People say 50 years is a long time but it doesn't seem like that."