TWO long serving employees at a Cotswold hotel have been recognised for clocking up four decades between them.

Sam Hughes and Sheila Vincent, who have each worked at the hotel for 20 years, were presented with their awards, bouquets of flowers and champagne during a staff Christmas lunch at the Three Ways House Hotel, at Mickleton.

The hotel is owned by Jill and Simon Coombe who bought it in 1995. They employ 45 staff, many of them locally who all helped the hotel achieve its recent AA silver star accolade for its high standards of hotel keeping, level of quality, hospitality, service and cleanliness.

It also holds a gold star from VisitEngland and certificate of excellent from TripAdvisor.

Mrs Coombe said it was a lovely occasion presenting the two ladies with their awards to show gratitude for their outstanding and long service.

"Sam and Sheila have been an important part of the Three Ways House Hotel team. Sam is the very welcoming host in Randall's Bar-Brasserie. She always has a smile and nothing is too much trouble. She is a favourite with many regular customers and ensures that new customers are also made very welcome.

"Sheila is the hotel's "Queen of Puddings" cooking fabulous puddings for each weekly meeting of The Pudding Club." The novel Friday evening event which Mrs Coombe has admitted to being a 'slightly eccentric institution' involves guests tasting seven different home made puddings each week and voting for their favourite.

"Over the last 20 years Sheila has cooked thousands of puddings for locals, regulars and guests who travel from far flung corners of the world to enjoy them. Sheila also cooks the delicious biscuits and cakes on offer daily in Randall's," Mrs Coombe added.