CHARITY shop staff and customers are shortly to say farewell to a Skipton woman who is retiring as manager after 17 years.

Tina Courtney joined Skipton and Craven Action for Disability (SCAD) as a volunteer in 1999 and has been manager of its Newmarket Street shop in the town since 2001.

She was born and bred in Settle but she and her husband, Chris, have lived in Skipton for many years. She has also worked for North Yorkshire Social Services, and will retire from her managerial post at the end of July.

SCAD chief executive, Roy Aldread, said: "Tina is well-known throughout the area and has given years of dedicated service to SCAD, where she has been a popular and hard-working manager.

"We will all miss her.

"Everyone at SCAD would like to thank Tina for her sterling efforts over the years and wish her and Chris a long and happy retirement."