The Mayor of Dudley paid a special visit to a borough manufacturing firm to mark its 100th anniversary of trading.

Councillor David Stanley visited Thomas Dudley Limited at its base on the Birmingham New Road. The mayor met current company chairman Martin Dudley, whose great grandfather Thomas founded the company in Dudley in 1920.

Martin Dudley, chairman of Thomas Dudley Ltd, with the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor David Stanley, and the specially commissioned local Monopoly pieces

Thomas Dudley has a foundry and plastics division and employs nearly 500 people, making innovative bathroom products and iron castings.

The firm was also commissioned last year to make Monopoly playing pieces with local themes for a special edition of the board game for Mary Stevens Hospice. Councillor David Stanley, the Mayor of Dudley, said:

"I was happy to visit Thomas Dudley as part of celebrations of their centenary in the borough. They employ around 500 people on the Birmingham New Road site as well as employing people on their other sites.

"I was very impressed with the tour, both on the foundry and the plastic side, and commend them on the high quality of goods they manufacture. I wish them every success for the future and hope they will be trading for many more years to come in the Dudley borough."