IT was in the 1950s when Betty Roe first pulled up on the forecourt of Gordon's garage to have her car serviced.

As she stepped out of her motor - a gleaming black Ford Poplar - she never imagined the scene would be replayed time and time again.

But 78-year-old Betty, from Chorley New Road, Bolton, got the red carpet treatment this week, when she took in her current car, a black Ford Escort, for a once over. For it is the 50th consecutive year she has used the garage.

Bosses at the garage, a Ford dealership in Higher Bridge Street, Bolton, decided to mark the occasion by offering Betty a free MOT and service -and throwing in a free set of tyres, a timing belt, a bouquet, a bottle of champagne and a teddy bear.

Betty, a former deputy headteacher and a retired minister in the United Reformed Church, knew something was afoot when the garage collected her car in the morning but instead of dropping it off at her home as usual, asked her to pop into the dealership to pick it up.

She said: "I was so overwhelmed when I found out what they had done for me. It was an extremely kind gesture, even if I did find all the attention a bit embarrassing."

Betty said: "I've bought all my cars from Gordons because they've always looked after me and treated me fairly and their work people have always been very courteous.

"My first car was nothing more than a box on wheels but I loved it. It cost me about £300. I can still remember the licence plate number - HWH 849.

"I had that for a couple of years and then I bought a black Anglia. I must have bought well over a dozen cars from them over the years."

Michaela McKenna, reception supervisor, said: "Miss Roe is one of our most loyal customers and we thought it might be nice to do something special to mark the date. We wish her many more years of happy motoring."