A LABOUR Party stalwart has received a long-service award from Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Stella Robson, 66, a Darlington borough councillor, joined the party when she was 16 - the youngest age at which you can officially join, but has been actively campaigning on its behalf since she was ten.

She helped with the 1945 General Election effort in the Leeds area, and has been involved in every campaign since.

Councillor Robson, who is married to fellow Darlington councillor, Frank Robson, received her award - a framed certificate and letter - from Mr Blair at Trimdon Labour Club, in December.

The Prime Minister told her: "You have been a member longer than I have been alive."

She said: "I come from a very political family and I joined at 16, which is the earliest age you can join.

"I helped distribute leaflets in the 1945 election when I was ten, and took part in the 1950 election, doing clerical work and knocking on doors, asking people if they had been to vote, which I have done in every election since."

Her election trails have taken her to Yorkshire, Cheshire, Tyneside and eventually to Darlington, where she has been a councillor on either the borough council and Durham County Council since 1972.

She was also mayoress of Darlington borough in 1995.