Betty Giles checked out her last book on Friday after 27 years as Burton Latimer's assistant librarian.

Sixty-five-year-old Betty (above), of Me eting Lane , Burton Latimer, was presented with a set of luggage by the county council.

"I shall miss the work' said Betty, who remembers the days when the town's library was housed in one small room at the council offices.

"We now have a fine library thanks mainly to the efforts of Mr Robert Mackintosh who got the scheme under way."

Betty now plans to spend more time with her daughter in Wales.

"But I shall still drop into the library because it has such a friendly atmosphere," she said.