A woman was left ‘flabbergasted’ when she told she had won fellowship award for her work with a charity.

When Eileen Poole, of Ponders End, opened her letter from Cancer Research UK, she was expecting an appeal for money.

She was left stunned when she was told the charity she had worked at for 20 years was honouring her with a fellowship.

Ms Poole, who works at the company’s charity shop, in Enfield Town, was recommended by her shop owner Namesh Baxi for the award.

Speaking to the Enfield Independent, Ms Poole said: “I was completely flabbergasted when I saw that I had been nominated and then chosen for the award.

“It is the last thing you expect to see, I had no idea my manager was going to nominate me.”

Ms Poole was one of 30 chosen from 800 workers across the country and received her award at the Russell Hotel on the Flame of Hope awards evening.

Ms Pool added: “It was amazing to get the award and I am very proud to have been chosen.

“I first started working at the shop 20 years ago because my mother-in-law and father had both passed away from cancer and has since effected a lot of people I know.”