LOCAL businessman Cecil Duckworth has helped plant a cherry tree to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the company he founded.

Worcester Heat Systems was founded by Mr Duckworth as Worcester Engineering Ltd in 1962.

He joined chairman Hans Dieter Eckhardt and Keith Jones, managing director of major client Plumb Center, for the planting, which took place at the company's head office in Cotswold Way, Warndon.

The ceremony marked the start of the company's 40th anniversary celebrations.

"We have a whole series of events planned," said Sue Pennington, marketing manager for Worcester Heat Systems.

The choice of a red flowering cherry tree had been to tie in with the idea of 40th wedding anniversaries being marked with red rubies, she added.

Anniversary events include a major exhibition of the company's products through the years, with around 5,000 installers from the company's vast trade network expected to attend over the next six months.

A competition is also being run through the Evening News, giving three readers the chance to win a heating makeover for their home from Worcester Heat Systems.