AN Evesham woman who retired from her job of 25 years this month has raised more than £400 with her retirement party.

Maralyn Gisborne, who has worked as a chamber maid at the Evesham Hotel for quarter of a century, decided that instead of presents she would ask friends and family to make a donation to Diabetes UK and Arthritis UK, raising £415.

Maralyn said: “I suffer from both diabetes and arhtritis and I always said I would do this when I retired. Instead of presents I asked people to make a donation if they wished, and I’m very pleased with the total raised.

“I would like to thank everyone for their generosity, especially Evesham Hotel where they put a donation box behind the front desk which collected £130, which was very nice.”