WHEN grandmother Lynne Jordan billed herself as the oldest barmaid in town to help boost sponsorship for a charity fun run she thought she might raise a few laughs as well as a few pounds.

But she could hardly believe it when she finished with a total of £1,000 to present to Julia's House in support of the new children's hospice it is building in Devizes.

Mrs Jordan, 59, who works at The Raven in Poulshot said: "My two daughters are both involved with Devizes Running Club and were helping out with the Santa fun run organised by Julia's House in Hillworth Park.

"I did the club's sofa to 5k course last year so I thought I would give it a go."

She did not sign up to run until a few days before the event as she thought she might be needed to help and was amazed at the response. She said: "There wasn't time for a justgiving page or anything so I just put a few lines on Facebook and called myself the Oldest Barmaid In Town."

She was backed by many of the regulars at The Raven, where she has worked for 28 years, and when the total reached £860 landlord and landlady Jerry and Nathalie Bellamy topped it up to £1,000.

Mrs Jordan often acts as an unpaid taxi for regulars who need to get home after a few drinks and they repaid her kindness by backing her run.

She said: "Everyone has been very generous."