IN the days of heavy industry and large scale manufacturing, Blackburn was home to several big name companies

And among major industrial concerns, providing jobs for thousands of local workers was Scapa, down in Witton.

It had first been established as Scapa Dryers, back in 1927, in premises that had once been a local skating rink.

It became Scapa Porritt in 1970, producing felts for the paper industry and this image from our archives, dated 1977, shows 13 of its workers, who had all given 25 years' service.

We know all their names, from the left are: Malcolm Goudie, James Hoyle, Eveline Burke, Clifford Lever, Dorothy Hannah, William Buckley, Frank Dinelly, Eileen Butterworth, Jack Spencer, Dudley Cannon, Alan Rushworth, Sidney Gill and Brian Riley.

A 14th co-worker had also reached the milestone, but Mr R Harwood was not included on the image.

The company played a big part in the local community, entering decorated floats in the town carnival held in the park across the road and displaying its wide range of products at the agricultural show and business exhibitions.

During the last war, 59 of its employees served in the armed forces, but only 53 returned. Their names were recorded on Scapa's war memorial and when the works was demolished, it was given a home at Witton Park High School.