A great-grandmother who spent 65 years working in the same street has retired aged 80.

Rosemary Allen, who was born and raised in Charing, joined the Headleys grocery store in the village’s high street after leaving the North School at the age of 15.

She moved to the nearby Wady and Brett store when Headleys closed and has been working at the same shop ever since.

The mother-of-four retired earlier this month following 50 years of service, but said she would have carried on working until she was 90 if she wasn't losing her eyesight.

“I’ve just been happy the whole time I’ve been at work,” said Mrs Allen.

“I always said that I never wanted to go into grocery work but I got offered the job and it was in a good location and I did get to really love it.

“The staff have been very good at helping me and keeping me going - if it hadn’t been someone who was caring, I wouldn’t have been able to work this long.

“I would like to thank everyone for the flowers, cards and cash - it really is overwhelming.

“I would also like to thank my bosses for putting up with me.”

Wady and Brett owner Vin Patel, who has run the family business for almost 15 years, says Mrs Allen’s retirement is a major loss to the village and business, which is also known as Londis.

He said: “Rose was already working here when I first bought the store.

“She has seen quite a few generations of people grow up over the years and knew a lot of people in the village.

“A lot of elderly customers knew her as she grew up with a lot of them.

“We are all deeply saddened by her retirement.

"Rose has been a great asset to the business and her reliability and work ethic is just outstanding.”

Mrs Allen, who has lived in Charing all of her life, has four children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.