Stitch in time on family's heirloom

Four generations of seamstresses have made countless frocks and quilts on the same sewing machine still going strong after almost 70 years.

Margaret Priest, aged 69, her daughter Caroline, 37, and seven-year-old granddaughter Ebologu are all a dab hand with the 1930s Jones machine.

The trusty device was bought by Margaret's father Harold Roberts as a gift for her mother Winnie just before the start of the Second World War.

After saving up the cash the cabinet maker paid £8.50 for the machine at specialist shop Lathams in West Bromwich in 1939. During the war years, when people were urged to "make do and mend", it proved to be an essential tool for making clothing for the whole family.

"Everybody used machines in those days. You had to make something from nothing really. If you had an old dress you would make an apron. An adult's coat could easily be turned into a child's coat. It could be used to make all sorts of things, "said Margaret, of Astons Close, Quarry Bank.

The 69-year-old was taught to sew from a young age, by her mother who lived in Rowley Regis and died aged 84 in 1996.

She even made her own wedding dress when she married husband Tony, now 69, at St Giles Church in Rowley Regis in 1961.

Over the years, the retired youth worker, has made an array of frocks and blankets for her four children and four grandchildren. Her mother also taught Margaret's daughter Caroline, the handy skill when she was little helping her to make clothes for her dolls.

And Margaret has passed on her creative hobby to eager young Ebologu who has already used her new found sewing talent to make items including a decorative bag.

The Colley Gate Primary School pupil said she loves using the sewing machine with her grandmother.

Margaret said: "The machine is still in great working order after all the years and I wouldn't want to be without it. It is great for teaching children how to sew because it is a lot safer than most modern machines. I am sure it will be used by the family for many more years."

While the Priest's single sewing machine has been handed down, three generations of seamstresses with three generations of sewing machines recently showed sewing was an enduring pastime in Staffordshire.

Janet Turley, aged 69, of Brownhills, and her daughter Jane Hardware, 44, of Poplar Street, Norton Canes, own the three machines, the oldest dating back 76 years.

The first machine belonging to the family is a 76-year-old Singer treadle machine owned by Janet's mother, Claris Prewitt. She was given it as her 21st birthday present.

And as the love of sewing has passed from mother to daughter, they received their own machines on their 21st birthdays as well.

Mrs Turley's machine is a 48-year-old Singer electric machine and Mrs Hardware owns a 23-year-old Bernina electric machine.

All three machines clock up a combined age of almost 150 years.