CARING: Volunteer charity worker Pauline Hirons from Burnley with television broadcaster Martyn Lewis at the awards ceremony. CARING Marks and Spencer employee Pauline Hirons has had her years of voluntary work with the Samaritans richly rewarded.

Pauline works in the Burnley store and gives 25 hours of her time each month to the charity and trains other volunteers in the North West.

The 47-year-old was the winner of the 'most effective individual fund-raiser' category in the first Marks and Spencer employee volunteer awards.

Her commitment was honoured at a ceremony in the Millennium Dome when broadcaster Martyn Lewis presented her with a cheque for £500 for charity.

She was one of 13 winners of the awards which celebrate the involvement of staff in their local neighbourhood and forms part of their corporate social responsibility programme.