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THEY’VE been keeping his toes cosy since he was 12. And Howard Renwick’s favourite socks are still going strong – 55 years later.

The sturdy red sports socks have seen service on the school hockey pitch, hillwalking trips and metal-detecting expeditions. And Howard, 67, fills them with presents for his grown-up kids every Christmas.

Even after more than half a century, the woollen socks still leak red dye in the wash.

And they’ve never even been near a darning needle since Howard’s mum bought them from Cairds Haberdashers back in the 50s.

Howard, of Dundee, said: “They’re very much part of the family.

“I don’t think they’ve ever been repaired. I have no idea how or why they’ve lasted so long.

“They’ve ruined quite a few sets of underwear, white shirts and T-shirts over the years and they’re not allowed near the washing machine any more.

“I wash them carefully by hand, which is maybe another reason they’ve lasted so long.”

Howard also reckons the fact he’s spent much of his life in lifts, rather than slogging up and down stairs, has helped his socks stay young.

He retired recently as boss of the Caltech lift company in Dundee.

Howard decided to tell the world about his socks after English big cat hunter Frank Tunbridge claimed he had Britain’s oldest working pair.

But Frank’s socks are a couple of young whippersnappers, at a mere 25 years old.

Howard said: “I saw an article about Mr Tunbridge’s socks and thought, ‘I can easily beat that.’”