BOSSES have helped one of the UK’s oldest digger drivers mark his 70th birthday by buying him a brand new, limited edition JCB, complete with air conditioning and a coffee machine.

Veteran digger, John Storey, from Leyburn in North Yorkshire, has been operating digging machinery for more than 45 years. So as his birthday milestone drew nearer, his employers decided to present him with a fitting tribute – a JCB 3CX to operate.

The vehicle is painted in 1970s JCB livery, produced specially to mark JCB’s own 70th anniversary.

But unlike machines of yesteryear, the new £75,000 digger comes with all the mod cons – including a coffee machine, air conditioning and even heated seating.

Mr Storey said: “When they turned up on the site with the 3CX I thought ‘what on earth is this?’

“It was a real shock but a great birthday surprise and has helped me reminisce about some of the machines I have operated over the years.”

The purchase had even more relevance for the Leyburn-based Biker Group, as it coincided with chairman and founder, Tony Biker also turning 70.

The company’s business development manager Sam Biker – the youngest of Mr Biker’s three sons all working in the company – said: “We bought the special 70th anniversary JCB machine to mark John’s birthday as it seemed the most appropriate gift.

“The added excitement for us all was that John knew nothing about it and so it came as quite a surprise when we revealed the present – the look on his face was a picture.

“John has been with us for more than 30 years and has operated many JCBs for the business throughout this period. He did do a bit of a double take when he saw the machine but is now putting it to good use to carry out ground works.”

He said they also felt the machine would hold its value, as JCB’s 60th anniversary vehicle has attracted global interest.

The 3CX is one of a limited 70th anniversary run decked out in a striking yellow, red and white livery – last seen on the vehicles 40 years ago.

JCB started out after the Second World War, when Joseph Cyril Bamford began welding surplus military equipment to create tipping trailers for farmers to hitch the new generation of petrol-driven tractors.

His business quickly took off and soon produced his first four-wheel tipping trailer.