ELSIE King has been a cleaner at the same school for more than three decades, and her mother did the same job for the previous 30 years.

Now Elsie, who was also a pupil at Foston Church of England Primary, is receiving a special award from North Yorkshire County Council in recognition of her long service.

She is one of about 300 council employees with 25 years or more continuous service to be presented with a new Long Service Award certificate, described by chief executive Jeremy Walker as recognition and reward for the loyalty and commitment of many unsung heroes.

Elsie, who has worked at Foston, between York and Malton, for 31 years so far, said she might be 75 but she had no intention of retiring just yet. "I love it," she said. "I like being with the children. It's a friendly village school."

She said new technology had made the job easier over the years. When she started out, she was responsible for a coke stove used to heat the school, and there was plenty of getting down on her knees and scrubbing the floor. Now there were electric storage heaters and carpets which simply needed vacuuming.

Updated: 11:56 Wednesday, February 06, 2002