Painters on one of Scotland's landmarks are furious that once their work is finished it will also mean the end of a grand old tradition.
The men, working on the Forth Bridge, have almost completed a ten-year project to coat the steel work with a rust-proof surface - a year ahead of schedule.
Work on painting the bridge traditionally needs to start again as soon as the job is finished. But the new surface means it won't need a new coat for 40 years.
Said a union representative: "Ach! They always used tae say: 'It's like painting the Forth Bridge - once you've finished, you have to start again.'
"Well, that's nae longer true. Och! It's typical of the careless management style we're seeing more and more of these days - nae thought given tae the old ways or traditions.
"What're people going tae say noo when they're faced with a constantly repeating task? Ah dinna ken. Ah jis dinna ken.
"It's a wee mystery too, what the lads'll do for work for the next 40 years!"
(With apologies to our Scots friends everywhere.)
