A BAKING legend has been working in the same pasty shop for 40 years — and she has no plan to leave any time soon.

Julie Gorse began working for Carrs Pasties on July 11, 1977, as soon as she left St Cuthbert's High School.

It was only meant to be a summer job, working in the bakery, but she enjoyed the family atmosphere so much, she never left.

And on Tuesday, July 11, she celebrated her 40th anniversary at the Manchester Road store.

The 55-year-old, who lives in Auberson Road, Great Lever, said: "We did not have so many people working then as we do now and the pasties were 15p when I started.

"I have seen a lot of people come and go, some people now have grown up children and I have seen a lot of different faces and different characters.

"It is like a big family and it has been that way since I came straight from school. It is my other family so it just makes sense for me to stay here."

She started off working in the bakery and has risen through the ranks to her current role as the store's retail manager.

When asked whether she'll ever leave she said: "I will work here for as long as I can.

"I have seen people come and go and I have seen a lot of characters over the years.

"But there was one simple thing that stuck in my head — I saw six of our vans in the car park.

"I just stood there and thought 'look at how far we have come'."

Her children are Maria, aged 36, Victoria, aged 31, and Lewis, aged 22, have all followed in the footsteps of their mother and worked in the shop at various times.

Mrs Gorse is now looking forward to moving into the new store at the former Big Wash car wash in Manchester Road, a move that is due to happen early August.