A COMMUNITY is to bid farewell to one of its champions as she retires after two decades of tireless campaigning on its behalf.

Flo McCall came to Shildon as Shildon Centre manager at a time when the town was striving to recover from the devastating blow of losing the wagon works.

Over the years, she has encouraged the start of many community groups, including the Shildon Recall Society and the town's carnival committee.

She also helped pull community groups together so that they could have their say on what they wanted to see in the town from Single Regeneration Budget Funding.

She said: "The Shildon people made me feel very welcome when I came here and they have taken me to their hearts. It has been an adventure but I do feel as if now is the time for me to go.

"I have lots of lovely memories and I have made a lot of good friends. The staff here at the Shildon Centre are more like friends than colleagues and I will be keeping in touch."

Friends, colleagues and representatives from community groups will say a fond farewell to the 60-year-old at a "drop-in party" at the Shildon Centre today.

She said: "I would like to thank all of the people I have worked with in the town. I have enjoyed my time here and I will miss them all very much."

Town mayor Garry Huntington said: "Flo has worked very hard for this community and we will be sorry to see her go. I wish her all the best in her retirement."