A lifelong Swaffham resident who said she learned all about her community when she ran a hairdressers' salon has become a councillor at the first town council she attended.

Christine Staines, 61, was unanimously co-opted on to the council last week to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of two-time Swaffham mayor Ian Sherwood to concentrate on his Breckland Council activities.

Mrs Staines, who has two sons and four grandchildren, has also worked for Ceres Chemist, Boots, the Ministry of Defence at Swanton Morley and as a receptionist at Smiths Solicitors.

She said: 'I have always been interested but of course with working I could not give my full time, but once I retired and Ian's position came up I though I will go for it and see what happens.'

Her other roles in the town have included as a governor at Swaffham middle school, as secretary of the friends of the hospital committee, and helping to organise this year's successful town carnival.

She said she was interested in planning issues and the market, and anything else to help the local community.