TWO men who once worked at the largest wool manufacturing centre in Europe attended the launch of a multi-million pound revitalisation for the Darlington factory site.

Mr Tommy Jenkinson, aged 71, and Mr George Grindley, aged 74, started work at the Paton and Baldwins factory in Darlington in the late 40s.

Mr Grindley, who lives just down the road from the Lingfield estate in McMullen Road, worked there for almost 44 years before his retirement.

Mr Jenkinson, of Marshall Street, Darlington, had more than 40 years' service with the company. Recalling the old days, he said: "What I remember most is the number of people who came from all over the county to work here.

"It was a very friendly place, and I've got a lot of happy memories of working here."

The pair were invited to the opening of the refurbished office buildings, Lingfield House, last Friday where they helped unveil a specially-commissioned, hand-woven giant tapestry in the art deco reception area. The tapestry is the work of Kent-based artist Phoebe Smith and took seven months to complete. It depicts the history of the Lingfield estate and some of Darlington's best-known landmarks.

Ms Smith spent a day going round the town taking pictures for the tapestry and leafing through archive pictures of the old factory.

"It's lovely up here. It's such a warm place," she said. "It was incredible going through the old photographs. You could almost feel people tapping you on the back."

The two guests of honour were impressed by Ms Smith's work.

Mr Grindley said: "I think it's marvellous. It's really captured the feel of the place."

Lingfield Point, as the old factory is now known, is the subject of a £120m conversion into a modern industrial park by its new owners, Lingfield Estates. Lingfield House is the first phase of the redevelopment, costing £16m.