Hazel Dutton has retired as clerk of Saddleworth Parish Council after 30 years of service. Colleagues held a party in her honour at Uppermill's Civic Hall.

Hazel, 79, was presented with flowers, Pandora jewellery, and drinks on Friday, July 17. "It's so nice to see everybody here," she told the Saddleworth Independent. "The people I've worked with when I first started, the people I've worked with since, and current employees. I've made so many friends. I'm quite touched, really. We've had so much fun. It doesn't feel like 30 years at all, it's just flown past."

She started at the council in 1996 and leaves just after England reached the World Cup semi-finals. Over the years, she faced unusual requests from the public, including one person who asked to fit a live cow up the stairs of Civic Hall for a potential advert.

Fellow clerk Karen Allott praised her colleague. "What can I say about our Hazel?" she said. "She's been an inspiration and a role model to us all, and I can only hope that whoever we get to replace her is as loyal and hardworking as she has been for us. Hazel welcomed me in a lovely, warm and motherly fashion and looked after me, advised me, and made sure I didn't make any stupid, silly mistakes, and I will always appreciate her for that."

Hazel has no plans to sit idle. "Well I'm not going to be sitting here watching reruns of Midsummer Murders," she insisted. "No. I'm not having that at all. I've always worked. I'm going to have to do voluntary work or something, just to get out. I've always been involved in brass bands, so something like that."