TWO engineers from a Stockton bus depot who both turned 65 in the same week were treated to a surprise celebration.

Derek Lloyd, a fitter and charge hand from Normanby in Middlesbrough and fitter Ian Noble from Trimdon Village in Co Durham both enjoyed celebrating their milestone birthdays with friends and colleagues at the Stagecoach North East depot in Stockton. The company put on a surprise spread with a specially-decorated bus cake.

Mr Lloyd, who has been a fitter for 41 years and has just taken semi-retirement with a part time position at the depot, said: “I approached the Engineering Manager, Neil McLeary and said I wanted to pay for a spread for the lads and lasses, it being my birthday and Ian’s was very close. Then Neil stopped me but couldn’t say anymore without letting the cat out of the bag, so I had an inkling that something was going on!”

Fellow birthday recipient Mr Noble has worked at Stagecoach for 20 years, including 13 years in the Darlington depot which then became Arriva, and returned to Stagecoach six months later.