ASDA'S charity champ Beryl O'Brien has become the first Bury employee to be awarded the company's highest honour.

The mother-of-three has been presented with Asda's ABCD (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) Lifetime Achievement Award.

And it's a fitting finale for the 64-year-old who retires from the company's Spring Street store on Christmas Eve.

Beryl, who works at the customer services desk, joined the store eight years ago.

Throughout that time, she has been responsible for organising a host of charity events as well as being actively involved in colleague and community work on behalf of Asda.

Her employers have regularly recognised her devotion by presenting her with a clutch of Golden Bear and other company awards.

But the latest lifetime achievement accolade means Beryl is the first Asda employee anywhere in the Bury area to receive the company's highest tribute.

"Even though I'll be retiring next month, I'll still be carrying on to do charity work," she says.

Beryl has a number of outside interests. She is a member of the Bury Lions club and has also been a member of the Bury Woman of the Year committee.

Commenting on her prized award, she said: "I'm absolutely delighted. I was nominated while I was on holiday.

"Then, when I returned, my store manager informed me I had to go Asda House in Leeds. We both went to the presentation and luncheon and it was a nice day."