STAR employee Dawn Moore might modestly claim that it was just "business as usual".

But her colleagues were determined to celebrate when she notched up 25 years at the same York store.

Dawn, 41, has served behind the counter and in the aisles of Jacksons, in Bootham, for a quarter of a century.

During that time, Dawn, of Poppleton Road, has been a familiar and friendly face for customers at the shop.

And the model employee is no stranger to accolades.

Last year, she won the Jacksons Employee of the Year competition, beating finalists from more than 100 stores and scooping a £300 cheque and a day out at Beverley Races.

She told the Evening Press: "I really like it here. It's very good, the staff are brilliant and if I had my 25 years again I would definitely do it again".

But hard-working Dawn doesn't plan to stop now, and wants to carry on working for Jacksons, joking that she would probably be there for another 25 years.

Dawn also plans to continue with her charity work, through which she has raised hundreds of pounds for many charities such as the Red Cross and the RSPCA.

It was back on August 22, 1977, that fresh-faced teenager walked into work for the first time.

This was a year when people were still wearing flares, and listening to Abba records.

She said: "When I left school, I went round all the shops looking for work and everywhere said I looked too young.

"But Jacksons let me have a two-week trial and I've just kept coming back. No one's ever said that the job is mine."

Dawn has become a valued member of both the staff and the local community.

She said there had been a lot of changes at the shop over the years, particularly with the other staff coming and going.

Updated: 10:00 Saturday, August 24, 2002