IDENTICAL twins with a connection to Lawrence of Arabia celebrated their 90th birthday at a surprise party in Dorchester.

Samuel and Walter Pitman were joined by friends, family and the town mayor for the get-together at the Conservative Club in South Walks Road.

Samuel, who lives at Southfield House in Dorchester, sang at Lawrence of Arabia's funeral.

Walter, who lives in Dorchester Road in Weymouth, was one of the last people to speak to the famous soldier and writer before his death.

He filled Lawrence's motorbike up with petrol before he died in a crash on the way to Clouds Hill in 1935.

Samuel's daughter Pamela House, 66, of Chestnut Way in Dorchester, said: "As twins, my father and uncle have always been close.

"We are a close family and it was great to get together at the party."

Samuel and Walter's families took them to the Conservative Club in Dorchester before surprising them with the party. They enjoyed a buffet and met the mayor Trevor Jones and mayoress Stella Jones at the celebration.

Samuel said: "It was a very good party and a great surprise to both of us.

"We didn't know anything about it until we walked through the door and it was lovely to see all of the family."

He added: "I have enough bottles of whisky to keep me in good health for a year.

"I know Walter had a really good time at the party as well."

The twins were born on May 11, 1913, at North Ground Dairy in West Chaldon to parents Sam and Kate Pitman.

They moved to Broompound Farm in Moreton at the age of 12 with their two sisters, Elsie and Florence.

Samuel followed his father in the dairy. He joined the Dorchester Choral Society as a young man and was a member of Moreton Church choir with whom he sang at Lawrence's funeral.

He married Dorothy Seward from East Knighton in 1936 and they had three children, Pamela, Roy and Gordon. They will celebrate their 67th wedding anniversary in August.

Samuel was in the Home Guard during the war, served on Moreton's village hall committee and worked at Winfrith as an electrician's mate for 18 years before retiring.

Walter became a mechanic at the Red Garage in Bovington Camp after leaving school.

It was there that he filled up Lawrence's motorbike before his last ride in 1935.

Walter met his wife Muriel when she was a nanny to children in Frampton at Moreton House. They had two daughters, Sybil and Margaret.

He served in the Army in Iraq and India before returning to working at the garage, but also won a long service medal for 25 years' service as a special constable.

Walter was on the committee of the Frome Valley Light Motor and Cycle Club and worked for the Forestry Commission and as a driver at Winfrith until retiring.