A FAMIILY firm is celebrating 70 years in the business by cycling through seven countries in seven days.

George Cox and Sons lay its foundations in 1947 and on Friday, the founder's two grandsons — Chris and Martyn — embarked on the epic bike ride to mark the milestone with their employees, who they say continue to build a strong future for the civil engineering firm.

Managing director Chris Cox, said: "It is a unique trip to celebrate a very special anniversary for the company whose continued success is down to the hard work and dedication of our employees to whom we are very grateful."

The foundations of the business can be traced back to April of 1947, when at the age of 46, George Cox took the risk to leave as a street mason with Eccles Corporation and began working for himself as 'George Cox Flagging Contractor'. As was case back then, he went going door to do and advertising in local shops for business. At the time Mr Cox could not afford to buy his own car and carried the flagging stones, sand, cement and tools for a day’s work on his handcart and returned at the end of the day with all the waste.

His front garden in Farnworth became a storage yard and a place to park the cart.

In the winter, he supplemented his income by carrying out jobs including roof repairs, drainage and even snow shifting.

Over the next two years, Mr Cox became established and worked all over Bolton.

The purchase of a tipping lorry for £145 proved to be a great investment, and he persuaded a neighbour to drive for him on a part time basis.

Mr Cox two young sons, George Jr. and Frank, would help him at weekends and during school holidays — something that would become a family tradition.

In 1953, Mr Cox and his two sons created their family company trading as George Cox and Sons.

The business changed direction moving away from paths and drives and out of the front garden, to work for local corporations including: Bolton, Atherton, Eccles, Sale and Manchester.

In 1957, the company moved into its own depot on Fletcher Street, Farnworth.

By 1965, the firm was employing 72 men and operating nine lorries, three vans and three cars.

That year, a concrete manufacturing company, Firwood Concrete Products, was formed with the same three directors as George Cox and Sons Ltd. George Jr. became Managing Director of Firwood, whilst Frank took over the running of George Cox and Sons Ltd.

George Sr. retired in 1970 at the age of 70, however, George Cox and Sons Ltd remained a family based company with Chris and Martyn joining the business in the 1980’s and who later became Directors in 1993.

Today, with the support of an additional three directors and 'its loyal and experienced staff', the firm delivers contracts across the North West, for which it has won awards.

Martyn said: "The company has continued to grow since then with the company now headed by the founders grandson Chris Cox who has been managing director since the mid 1990s the company is now based on two sites in Farnworth and in Stockport clients includes most local authorities in the North West along with Transport Authorities, Utilities and National Contractors."

The two brothers will be accompanied by Mark Holroyd Stephen Abbot and Paul Coombe.

The trip will take them from York minister through the low countries France Germany and culminating in Basel in Switzerland.

The cycling team will joined for part of the trip by Francesa Cox the great grand daughter of the founder George Cox.

Martyn said: "We decided to do this because it is something different to mark the 70th year of the business — setting off on the 7/07/17!

"I am looking forward to seeing places at a more leisurely pace, we all are often travelling past places at high speed. The experience of different place on a cycle is also different."

Martyn, who is a local councillor, said that he would be making a donation to Fort Alice to mark the 70th year of trading.