A MOTHER-of-two, whose doctor persuaded her to work as his secretary at his new practice 25 years ago, is celebrating a milestone in her career.

Margaret Robinson joined Great Lumley Surgery in 1977 when her GP, Dr Len Featherstone, told her he was starting up his own practice with another GP, Dr Peter Robertson, and asked if she would be their secretary.

She was doing secretarial work for British Rail, but has not looked back since making the move and is now celebrating 25 years at the practice.

To mark the anniversary, she was recently treated to a dinner at a Chinese restaurant, attended by past and present staff at the surgery in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street including Dr Featherstone, who retired several years ago. Staff also presented her with a gold bangle.

Margaret said: "The practice started off quite small and it's just grown and grown and grown. Now it's more business-like, but we still like to think we're a friendly practice.

"The patients seem to think so as well, at Christmas we must have got 30-odd boxes of biscuits from them."