DURING her working day Janet Wareing is an enforcement officer for magistrates' courts across East Lancashire -- in other words, she arrests people for non-payment of fines.

But when the courts close she takes on another role which is an intriguing mixture of ambassador, charity fund-raiser and party animal.

Mother-of-two Janet, who lives in Clayton-le-Moors, has just donned the mantle of national president of the National Association of Ladies' Circles, the women's equivalent of Round Table.

The association is open to any woman aged 18 to 45, regardless of colour, creed, marital status or occupation. Janet, a member of Clitheroe Ladies' Circle, said: "We have a great deal of fun. We do a lot of fund-raising and as an association have raised £1.5million for Cancer Research UK over the last 10 years.

"Locally, circles raise probably the same amount of money again for various charities and worthy causes and we really enjoy ourselves. We know how to seriously party!"

Janet, who joined the organisation in 1988, will keep her presidential role for three years and is the first national president to work full-time. In much the same way as the Queen has embarked on a nationwide tour to celebrate her Jubilee year, Janet has undertaken a week-long whistlestop visit to dinners and rallies in Cambridge, Somerset, Bristol, Cardiff and South Wales, returning to Kirkham for the last leg of the celebratory journey.

Her travels meant that husband Peter, a police officer stationed at Clitheroe, and teenage daughters Sarah, 17, and Emma, 14 in July, had to cope on their own. Janet, a former police officer and bailiff, said: "I came home to a mountain of ironing.

"But they managed without me. They can now shrink all sorts in the washing machine.

"The chip shop does very well when I'm away and they are now all superb with the toaster.

"The goldfish looked like it had never seen food before and the cat was miaowing for its dinner."

Being the national president will be a hectic role but one Janet is looking forward to despite a lack of time for her hobbies of socialising and collecting antiques.

"I'm going to have my work cut out -- I have about three free weekends before the end of the year and I don't have any family holiday at all," she said.

Luckily, modern technology and her teenagers' skill at using their mobile phones keeps them all in touch.

"They are good at text messaging and I'm learning to miss out the vowels," Janet said.

The role will involve a considerable amount of meeting and greeting but Janet is prepared for the commitment. She will have use of a car sponsored by South Wales company Hyper Value and Portmeirion Pottery will supply her with presidential gifts which she will distribute at functions and anniversaries.

One of the lynchpins in her social whirl is Sarah Rhodes, of the Get Ahead Hats sales and hire franchise in Martholme Lane, Great Harwood, who often helps Janet out by co-ordinating a hat to her latest outfit. Sarah said: "I have said because she has to wear so many hats she can come and get whatever is available."

One of the charities supported by the organisation is the annual Race For Life appeal, which raises money for cancer research.

Janet, 42, said: "I have had cancer, so it is very close to my heart."

Ladies' Circle members have helped out with the handing out of water during, and medals after, the event and also use it as an opportunity to boost membership.

The association's patron is the BBC's royal correspondent Jennie Bond, who was unable to attend the NALC's recent annual meeting for the first time in her four years as patron when she was called away to attend Camilla Parker Bowles' much-publicised and deeply personal speech about her mother's osteoporosis.

According to Janet, Jennie "seriously loves partying" at the get-togethers.

Away from the rounds of making new friends and choosing new hats and shoes for special occasions, Janet's role as an enforcement officer means she faces challenging situations daily.

But she manages to keep her sense of humour: "You have to show who's boss. I love my job and wouldn't give it up -- no two days are ever the same."

The National Association of Ladies' Circles has 550 circles across the UK with more than 6,000 members in total.

There are about 200 members in Lancashire but new members are always welcome.

Anyone who would like more information can telephone the NALC on 0808 100 9876.