"ABSOLUTELY delightful." This was the verdict from Stella Guy after being presented with a special award for her lifetime of service to the trade union movement.

Ms Guy, from Clifton Moor, had recently retired as regional secretary of the TGWU and of the TUC and was presented with the award by York MP Hugh Bailey at this weekend's TUC annual general meeting.

She said: "I am absolutely delighted with it - it was a great privilege. They are very generous people."

She said her highlights of her career were working to fight fascism and racism in the workplace and improving health and safety conditions.