A woman who has been in the same job since she joined a corner store as a teenager in 1975 has been rewarded for her dedication.

Heather Wardingham, 55, of Cornwell Crescent, Devizes, does far more than just take payments from customers at Hillworth Stores she cares about them as well.

She said: "I love my customers. I like to do little jobs for those who are elderly. I will do their shopping or just pop in for a chat."

Miss Wardingham, who lives with her partner Will Mundy, starts work at 6am five days a week but has hardly had a day off sick in her 40 years at the shop.

Former shop owner Maria Johnson, who nominated Miss Wardingham for town council award, said she had only had about six days off in her whole working life.

Miss Wardingham said: "I always try to come in. I don't believe in taking time off. I enjoy the early mornings and have no plans to retire yet. Things are a bit different here to how they were in the early days. Back then I used to weigh out fruit and vegetables and we had a butchery counter."

She was first offered a job by original shop owner Ray Parsons when she was still at school and used to work on a Saturday and two evenings a week.

But after she left Devizes School she went full-time and has stayed ever since. She said: "I have been very lucky with my bosses. I have only had three and they have all been lovely. Ray was the first and then Maria and now the shop has been bought by Central I have Sarah Elliot as my manager."

She said she was very pleased with the way Central, who took over the shop last year, had revamped it. She said: "We are really well stocked now and more people are coming back in."

She was presented with her long service award by deputy mayor Roger Giraud-Saunders at a ceremony at the town hall on Thursday evening.

She said: "I was very surprised to be nominated. I would like to thank Maria for nominating me.