A LOCAL lady is celebrating 30 years of selling butties in the same shop.

Kath Ferguson has been entertaining regulars and selling food to hungry customers at the Refreshment Bar in Northgate, Blackburn, for an amazing three decades.

And Kath, 57, of Marlton Road, Ewood, has still had time to bring up three children, and finish an Open University degree in History and English Literature.

Kath, who was given a bouquet of flowers and a special cake to celebrate the anniversary, said: "I suppose the secret to my success would be that I like to keep fit. I walk to work every morning.

"The best bit about the job for me is getting to meet people. There are lots of regulars who come in here day in, day out, and you get to know them. Everyone is friendly. But I think I have got a few more years in me yet, God willing."

Boss Vivienne Fish, co-owner of the shop with her husband Allan, said: "She is a remarkable lady, always pleasant and cheerful. She is unique -- everything you could possibly want in a person, she has got."

And Ron O'Keefe, president of the local chamber of trade, praised Kath's years of sandwich service. He said: "It is very rare these days for someone to have done 30 years behind a counter, and to have served so many cups of tea and sandwiches. We wish her all the best for the future."