STICKING together during their time in service, two men who met almost 70 years ago have remained firm friends through the decades.

Meeting as complete strangers during an Army medical in Manchester in 1939, the pair were reunited weeks later at military training at Seaforth Barracks, after being called up to complete their service.

Posted to the same regiment and batallion as Eric Rackham from Manchester, Len Andrews, of Derwent Road, believes their friendship got them through the difficult times.

He said: "We saw some rough times but then you think of the laughs that you had and that we came home - we both say you can't complain."

Earlier this month, the two 88 year olds met for a catch up at Eric's home in Eccleston, Lancashire.

The war veterans, who speak on the phone almost every month, reminisced about their exploits and scrapes from the six-and-a-half years they spent in each other's company during their National Service.

Len said: "We had lots of fun. When we first joined the Army he always shaved at night and he used to laugh at me because I had to shave every morning.

"He got it when we went to the Middle East though. He has fair skin and got everything going - bites, impetigo, all sorts."

After their demobilisation from the Army, the two sergeants went their separate ways.

Len returned to Latchford, where he was born, and made his career as a joiner, while Eric headed back to Manchester where he worked as a travelling salesman for a linoleum firm.

Speaking of their reunion, 68 years after they first met, Len, who has four children, nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, said: "We always send each other birthday and Christmas cards.

"I hadn't seen him since he called in a few years ago. Before that it was when my wife Marjorie died nearly 11 years ago.

"It was lovely to see him."