TENBURY has said goodbye to one of its most loved characters.

Sally Matthews, the manager at Tenbury Library, has decided to leave the town after 25 years and head back home to Plymouth.

Friends, colleagues past and present, and library users attended a get together at the library last Friday to say their goodbyes.

Mayor Mark Willis presented Sally with a framed certificate of appreciation as a parting gift.

"Sally is a popular and dedicated public servant," said Cllr Willis.

"She has made the library the invaluable asset it is today.

"Much of your hard work has been done in your spare time.

"You have been a constant source of inspiration to those that have used the library."

Sally has been the library's manager since August 1990 when the building opened.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to be a librarian here," said Sally.

"Thank you for allowing me to be part of your community."

Sally, who in 2002 won Tenbury Town Council's achievement award, recalled wading through flood water in 2007 to get to the job she loved.

"It's going to be very hard to leave," said Sally.

Sally has also run groups for writers in both Ludlow and Tenbury, been involved in Cafe 27, and worked as a volunteer at The Regal.