POPULAR Broadway bank manager Ellen Wagstaff was all at sea when she won a top award - she was sent on a luxury cruise.

Ellen's hard work was recognised when she was chosen out of 1,700 branch managers for the HSBC's top accolade.

Not only did she win the Oscar of the banking world for the quality of service she provides, but also for "performance plus", which means her little branch is highly profitable too!

She received her award from the bank's chief executive, Bill Dalton, at a top London hotel in March in front of 630 leading banking executives.

For her prize, Ellen was sent off on a cruise around the Med with her husband Francis.

"It was absolutely fabulous. I had not long come back from my normal holiday caravanning in Exmouth, which was lovely, but the cruise was just sheer luxury," she said.

The pair were sent around the coast of Italy on a luxury liner for five days finishing up in Monte Carlo and a gala dinner dance on board ship.

Ellen said: "Monte Carlo and the dinner dance were the high spots.

"We went in to see a casino, but I didn't gamble - we don't get paid that much," she joked.

Andy Gwillam, branch manager for Evesham and the North Cotswolds, said: "It was a very great achievement and very well deserved."

Ellen has been manager of the bank for eight years.

During that time she and her staff have played a full part in village life, raising cash for charity with wacky ideas and opening their doors to late night shoppers at Christmas time with sherry and mince pies.