A FAMILY firm of accountants will celebrate being English tomorrow - by giving all its staff the day off.

St George is the Patron Saint of England, yet the day set aside to celebrate him, April 23, will pass as little more than a blip on the radar of most English people.

Gortons accountancy firm in Radcliffe employs 15 staff and was set up by John Gorton, but is now run by his sons David and Jim.

For the past eight years, they have been celebrating St George's Day by giving staff the day off and inviting clients and friends for a day out.

David Gorton, aged 38, of Astley Bridge, said the idea was to celebrate Englishness and was, in part, motivated by the fact that Ireland's St Patrick's Day was so well supported across England.

He said: "We will get 30 people out on Wednesday celebrating St George. There will be lawyers, bankers, accountants and friends. We also invite, staff but they spend more than enough time with us anyway, so most do other things.

"We will spend the morning snow boarding at Chill Factor in Trafford Park and then go for a pub crawl in Manchester."

"I used to take a day's holiday from my previous job but now I can give my staff a holiday."

The firm does not send Christmas cards, but chooses to send St George's Day cards to all its clients, including those in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

This year, the company ran a competition to design the card, offering students at three Bury schools a £100 prize for the best design.

It was won by Emmete Freeman, an art and design student at Bury College.

Mr Gorton said: "Everybody remembers when they get a St George's Day card, but nobody notices when they get a Christmas card - there has never been a negative comment about it."

Anyone who wants to help the brothers celebrate tomorrow can meet them at the Knott Bar opposite Deansgate Station at 1pm - with face paint.