THERE was a trip down memory lane for one long standing factory in Okehampton last week, as former employees got together to celebrate 35 years of being in production.

To mark the significant date in their history, Heinz factory manager John Anderson opened up the factory to all the retirees, families and friends of the company's current employees.

General secretary Julie Dunn said the whole event was very special.

She said: 'Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and it was lovely to see the retirees being able to go around the factory and have the time to chat to colleagues.

'It was also very rewarding to take the children of the families around, they were amazed by the cheese cakes and how they are made.'

Mrs Dunn said celebrating 35 years of production was a massive achievement for all the staff, past and present.

She added: 'It was quite an emotional day for us. There was even a former member of staff who retired 25 years ago, she was pottering around and really enjoying the day.

'It was really important to get everyone back together to remind us of some of the values we hold here at Heinz.

'All our staff are a hugely loyal workforce and have always worked so well together as a team—that showed when everyone came back.

'The fact we were raising money for Macmillan Cancer, made the day extra special, because it is something very close to our hearts.'

Included in the 70 retirees were founders of Watts Countrymade foods, Michael and Barbara Watts, who created the site with their family back in 1974.

Also receiving a warm welcome back were the only other three factory managers, Nigel Wright, Roger Wools and Paul Tomkies, as well as the original new product development manager, Pat Parrish, personnel manager Don Kurz and finance manager, David Smith. an employee from the cheescake team, Pauline Whiteley, also celebrated her 35 years at the factory.

The former employees were able to catch up with colleagues and take a tour of the factory, which included old photographs, displays, competitions, raffles, refreshments and a celebratory cake.

Mayor of Okehampton Cllr David Weekes also joined the team in their celebrations, which started on Wednesday, July 15 from 10am and finished on Thursday, July 16 at 2am on the night shift.

More than £700 was raised for Macmillan Cancer, the site's Heinz charitable trust charity, for which they hope to gain matched funding.