ONE of the oldest family businesses in Blackwood is celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Generations of Blackwood men have bought their clothes at Lamberts, on the town's High Street - and more recently the shop has also sold school uniforms.

The men's outfitters was first established, on its current site, in May 1933 by Thomas Lambert, who was then just 22 years of age.

His son Philip, who began working at the shop in 1969, took over in 1986 when Mr Lambert died. Now he still runs the shop with his wife Mary and the couple, who live in Blackwood, say they are looking forward to many more years in business.

"There was a depression on when my father started out and it was a formidable time to set up a business," he said.

"But with a lot of hard work and dedication he made it succeed."

Mr Lambert still has an original ledger from the time the business started.

The figures show that on the first day of trading, the takings were just eight pounds, six and a half pence.

"Thankfully things have improved since then!" he said.

The business later expanded to four branches - two in Blackwood, one in Merthyr and one in Tredegar.

But now they just have the original Blackwood store, which has expanded on to three floors.

The shop celebrated its special anniversary with little fuss, with staff simply putting up a special display of gold '70s' in the window.

* In the picture: Philip and Mary Lambert.