AFTER spending five decades serving shoppers and some of the city's most well known stores a shop assistant has decided it is time to retire.

To people in the city, Susan Charlton may be a familiar face having spent 30 years at Russell and Dorrell before also working at Tramps nightclub and Edinburgh Woollen Mill. 

Now the 66-year-old, from Worcester, has decided it is the right time to retire after a seven-year stint working at Toys and Games of Worcester in Broad Street.

Originally from Malvern, Mrs Charlton has worked in Worcester all of her life - starting out at Russell and Dorrells in 1974 where she spent 29 years.

But now, 50 years on, she planning on enjoying a well-earned retirement.

"I have lived in Worcester for nearly 30 years," she said. 

"1995 I moved but I have always worked in Worcester, I started at Russell and Dorrells in 1974."

Mrs Charlton, aged 66, said there were a few reasons behind her decision to retire.

"I now get my pension. I'm always standing up all day so I think I have had enough now.

"Tim and Vicky are really great. You get customers who are there virtually every day of the week. You don't get many loyal customers these days - it's like a big family."

Mrs Charlton said she plans to enjoy "a few holidays" and a "lot of gardening", while also aiming to be fitter and make time for a lot more reading.

"I'll miss the people, the customers and all of my work colleagues.

"My last day was Monday (March 4) and it was strange. It almost felt like I was going on holiday.

"It was a bit of a weird feeling but I am looking forward to it. It is definitely bittersweet."

Tim Evans, owner of Toys and Games of Worcester, said Mrs Charlton would be sorely missed but had earned a "well deserved" retirement.

"Sue has been with us for seven years and served all of Worcester over that period. In fact she has served Worcester for all of her life," he said. 

"She is just a lovely person and a pleasure to work with. She is very much missed, we are missing her already, but it is a well deserved retirement.

"We are planning a leaving do to celebrate her career. She very much felt like one of the family so it feels like we are losing part of that family."