THE maternity unit at Trowbridge hospital lost two long-serving members of staff this week as they began their retirement after 25 years on the ward.

Nursery nurse Ann Daniels has helped thousands of parents learn how to care for their babies and prepare for going home.

Mrs Daniels, 64, said in some cases she has worked with several generations of proud mums. She said: "It can be a bit embarrassing for the dads if I bathed them when they were babies, but it proves I have been doing the job a long time."

Auxiliary Pauline Edwards is also retiring but plans to keep busy with her grandchildren.

Ann and Pauline's colleagues said the unit would not be the same without them, and held a goodbye party.