Staff at a Dewsbury kitchen manufacturer are celebrating after collectively amassing an enormous 3,166 years working for the company.

Rixonway is billed as the second-biggest private sector employer in Kirklees and has some of the longest-serving staff in the region.

Some 23 people have worked at the kitchen manufacturer for 20 years or more, 24 people having worked there for 15 years or more and 59 working for the company for 10 years or more.

Bob Matcham, 68, a production operative, has been with Rixonway for nearly 40 years. He joined the firm in 1975 as an apprentice woodwork machinist.

He recalled: “We never bought anything in that we could make ourselves. There used to only be 20 of us and we made everything by hand. I used to make around 30 doors a week and now we make 5,000 a day.

“I’ve been surprised by how we expanded so quickly and the quality has really improved in the last 20 years.”

Rixonway has several members of the same family working together – brothers Clive, Richard and Nigel Whitehouse joined the company in 1996.

Clive and Richard, 59, both work as machinist drill operators and Nigel, 51, works as a production operative.

Maintenance manager John Gardiner works with his son, apprentice Calum, who is an appretice engineer.

Staff put the long service down to job security, investment and employee care. Bob said: “Rixonway has been good as an employer and the directors know everyone’s names, which is important in a big company.”

Commitment to the company continues at board level.

Chief executive Paul Rose has been with Rixonway for more than 20 years, since joining as sales director while Nick Greenall, operations director and Andy Pickard, customer service and IT director, have been with the company for 18 and 12 years respectively.

Mr Rose said: “The satisfaction of employees is incredibly important to Rixonway and we strive hard to achieve a secure, comfortable environment for all our staff.

“The long service of our employees is testament to our commitment as an employer and we have already pledged to invest in the business to ensure we are here for many years to come.”