TIMES were hard during the 1926 General Strike, twins Elsie Poole and Edna Patterson recall.

So hard that their father, Andrew Kirkup, was driven in desperation to offer up the family pet rabbit, Silver, for the dinner table.

Mrs Patterson, who later worked as a canteen cook at Cummins Engines, in Darlington, said: "None of us could eat it. I can remember us all sitting crying at the table, even though it was a gorgeous rabbit pie."

They laughed as Mrs Poole said: "My father had to eat the whole thing himself."

That is one of many memories the twins recollected as they enjoyed a meal to celebrate their 90th birthday, which made them one of the oldest living sets of twins in the country.

The sisters were born to Mr Kirkup, a steel smelter, and his wife, Elizabeth, in West View, Templetown, Consett.

Mrs Poole, who was born three hours before her sister, said: "We weren't identical, but when we were younger had a strong resemblance."

She said: "It was wonderful growing up in the village. Most people were either related or knew each other."

They recalled scavenging for coal when their father joined pickets at the Consett Steelworks in 1926.

Mrs Patterson said: "There was a policeman - we won't mention his name - who would warn us that another bobby was on his way. He would let us get away with it, because he knew we were hard up. My father used to sweep up coal dust for our fire."

Mrs Poole remained in Consett, working in domestic service for many years, while Mrs Patterson worked as a cook in canteens until her retirement in 1979.

Mrs Poole lives in Consett and Mrs Patterson in Crook.

Both are active members of the Salvation Army, which marked their birthday on Tuesday, in Consett.