Five members of staff at Morrisons supermarket in Devizes, who have been with the store since it opened 20 years ago, this week celebrated a joint century of service.

Helen Roberts, 54, of Queen’s Road; Helen Lake, 46, of Anzio Road, and Judy Farrell, 74, of Broadleas Park, all started at what was then Safeway on the same day, January 7 1991.

Mrs Roberts, who has two children and two grandchildren, said: “I remember it like it was yesterday. We went for training at the Bear Hotel. There was snow on the ground that day.

“Then when the supermarket opened we had a jazz band playing in the car park. It was all great fun.”

The company invited the three women and two other colleagues who started at around the same time, Mandy Moore and Shirley Reardon, to a celebratory 20th anniversary dinner at the Castle Hotel on Saturday.

Mrs Roberts added: “It has been a good firm to work for. I don’t think I would still be here if it wasn’t. It is good to be part of a happy team.”

Mrs Farrell, who has three children and six grandchildren, is still working on the checkouts as she did when she started 20 years ago.

She works 19 and a half hours a week.

She said: “Nothing much has changed over the years. I really didn’t think I’d still be working here all these years later. It is still a good place to work. I will work on as long as I can.”

Deputy store manager Chris Nicholas said: “I would like to thank the ladies for all their years of service. They are exemplary employees.”

The supermarket, built on the former site of building firm W E Chivers, was officially opened in February 1991 when two St John Ambulance badgers, Chloe Grist and Victoria Shearing, cut the ribbon.

They were presented with a special Resusci-Baby training kit by Safeway managing director, Pat Kieran.