WHAT is believed to be a unique birthday in UK history is to celebrated in style in Ballingry on Saturday.

It will mark the 50th birthday of a betting shop at the township’s 15 Benarty Square and manager Kellyann McDade said this week that as far as Ladbrokes know this is the first betting shop in the United Kingdom to have a 50th birthday.

She said: “This part of Ballingry has had a long betting history. Before Benarty Square was constructed we are told there was a pitch and toss school which met regularly on the site and then the shop opened in 1968.

“So we are rightly having a big day on Saturday to mark the milestone.”

On the day there will be a £50 charity bet lodged by long time regular punters at the Benarty Square shop, Willie Clarke and Franci Rafferty, with all the proceeds from the ‘punt’ being shared by Benarty Gala Day fund and Lochgelly High School Pipe Band.

Both admit to spending ‘a bit of time’ at the Ladbrokes shop and Willie said: “There is quite a bit of betting history here for the pitch and toss school was a very popular feature before the Square was built.”

Also taking part in the day will be Mary Carr, who worked in the shop for a total of 27 years and she will be joining Kellyann, Senga Gibson, Joy McCormack, Nicola Drummond and Debbie Laws, to help the customers enjoy what should be a great day.

Added Kellyann: “Everything will start at 11am with the charity bet being placed at 11.30 and our charity raffle closing things at 4pm. A special 50th birthday cake is being made for the occasion and there will be a mixture of free bets and a tournament on the gaming machines to keep everyone involved.”

The shop boss said that the Benarty business community had been generous in their donations of prizes for the raffle and there had also been support from other businesses in the area.

The shop has seen decorations by Ballingry artist George Mackie who has created images of tennis, horse racing, football and greyhound racing and also a mural above the racing data wall.