Lorene Waring, 47, has become a familiar face behind the counter at Althams Travel Services in High Street, where she has worked for a quarter of a century.

Since leaving school at 16, the mother-of-one has been passionate about travel and she started working at an independent travel agency in Blackburn before moving to Althams as a entry-level clerk in the early 80s.

Now, Lorene is celebrating 15 years as manager and 25 years in total at the family-run travel firm and she wouldn't have it any other way.

She said: "I always wanted to travel and the careers adviser at school suggested I become a travel agent - since then it's been in my blood.

"I worked at an independent place in Blackburn for about seven years before coming to Althams.

"Even now I love being able to arrange people's holidays and no two days are ever the same.

"One minute I could be booking a bus ticket for someone and the next I'm arranging a round-the-world cruise.

"Also, it helps that Althams is such a great company to work for and the whole team around me are fantastic - I wouldn't dream of ever leaving."

It's not just the company that keeps Lorene coming back to work every morning.

She said: "I guess the best part about it is that I've managed to get myself on a lot of trips over the years - we try and take about four a year.

"I've been to America and the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles, Barbados, St Lucia - all over really but my favourite places are still right here in Europe.

"I absolutely love Croatia and, of course, Paris. There is so much culture and history to enjoy here."

Her greatest trip came last year when she became one of the last people to sail on the world-famous QE2 ocean liner.

Lorene joked: "I could get used to that regal lifestyle. The grandeur of it was something that will stay with me forever."