Friends and supporters saluted Penny Noad as she stepped down as president of the Wiltshire branch of the British Red Cross after nine years of service.

The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sir Maurice Johnston, attended a ceremony in West Lavington village hall on Thursday and presented her with flowers and farewell gifts.

Mrs Noad, of Kington Langley, was thanked for all her hard work.

"It was a super evening," said Mrs Noad, who was also presented with a bird table.

"It is a Rolls Royce of bird tables with a brass plaque. I wanted a bird table because it is something you look at a dozen times a day."

Mrs Noad, who is a former nurse and magistrate, said a particular highlight of her presidency was the building of the new county headquarters on the site of the old St James Hospital in Devizes, and the opening in 1998 by Princess Alexandra.

Director Sara Burgess said Mrs Noad had steered the branch through years of change in her presidency. "She did a huge amount in her time," Ms Burgess said.

"She saw the branch through unification, and the change from a local to a national perspective. She also saw us through restructuring."

Mrs Noad is succeeded by Dr Jeremy Bradbrooke, from Trowbridge.