IT'S a family affair down at Lancaster's ASDA store.

No less than 30 mothers work alongside one or more of their sons or daughters at the Ovangale Road store.

And, this week, ASDA will be welcoming two sisters who have visited the store every day since it opened, 20 years ago.

As a special treat for Mother's Day, the mums were allowed to put their legs up while the youngsters did the hard work.

An ASDA spokeswoman said: " There are 30 mums employed at the store, working alongside one or more of their siblings.

"They often opt to work in the same department and following the same shift patterns as their parent.

"We've got mums working alongside their daughters and sons in all departments.

It really is a family affair and makes for a great atmosphere."

Store manager, Howard Willis, added: "We have always encouraged a family atmosphere.

To have more than 30 pairs of mothers and daughters and sons working alongside each other is a real achievement.

Everyone gets along famously, it really is just like one big happy family."

Meanwhile, Rita Richardson, 68, and Rene Howarth, 80 will be getting the VIP treatment o0n Thursday after making a grand total of 7,300 visits to the shop.

Store bosses estimate that Rene and Rita have spent a total of 44 weeks shopping in store, buying 4,100 loaves of bread and 6,240 pints of milk.

The four mile round trip from their home on the Newton Estate adds up to a total of 29,000 miles over 20 years, the equivalent of two journeys around the world.

To mark the occasion, Rite and Rene will be taken by chauffer driven Bentley for a day of pampering in Lancaster while ASDA staff to the daily grocery shop.

ASDA is also to donate pet food to the local animal sanctuary, which Rita and Rene collect for.