THIRTY years of service in the Salvation Army has been rewarded for a woman who has been made a major recently.

Linda Watson, 48, from Auckland Park, started working with the Salvation Army as a teenager and was appointed an officer in 1982.

During her service, she has completed fundraising in the area and will spend her new role at Shildon's Salvation Army Centre, in Soho Street.

She said: "It is early days in my new full-time role, but I am very much looking forward to getting to know new people and have the opportunity to talk about the Christian faith."

"This is my opportunity to not only talk about the faith, but to carry it out with actions within the community and to share with people what we do."

For more information about the charity, visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk