A 90-year-old has been awarded "Woman Of The Year" for {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) Britain's oldest full-time employee-still working 40 hours a week. Now Irene Astbury works from 9am to 5pm daily at the pet shop in Macclesfield, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} she opened with her late husband Les. Her years of hard work have {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (final) been acknowledged after a customer nominated (提名) her to be Cheshire's "Woman Of The Year".

    Picking up her "Lifetime Achievement" award, proud Irene {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (declare) she had no plans {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (retire) from her 36-year-old business. Irene said, "I don't see any reason to give up work. I love coming here and seeing my family and all the friends I {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (make) over the years. I work not because I have to, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} because I want to."

    Granddaughter Gayle Parks, 31-who works alongside her in the family business-said it remained unknown as to who nominated Irene for the award. She said, "We don't have any idea who put grandma forward. When we got a call {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (say) she was short-listed, we thought it was {#blank#}9{#/blank#} joke. But then we got an official letter and we were blown away. We are so proud of her. It's {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (wonder)."