ELVIS fan Wendy Champion will make the journey of her dreams after working in a Hampshire shop for a quarter of a century.

Wendy has just celebrated 25 years with New Forest fashion store, Elliotts of Lymington.

Now, thanks to a contribution from her employers, she is looking forward to visiting Gracelands, the Elvis Presley mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.

Wendy started work at Elliotts in October 1975.

An Elliotts' spokesman said: "She began in the children's shoe department and enjoyed her work despite a distinct lack of blue suede shoes.

"In 1985 Elliotts opened the coffee shop Caf Elliott, and it became so busy that Wendy found herself helping out there every day.

"In the end she was spending so much time in the caf that she was asked to join the coffee shop staff full time.

"She's been there ever since and has even taken her City and Guilds in catering."

Jenny Welker, the store's managing director, said: "When we celebrated Wendy's 20 years' service we gave her a gold watch.

"We weren't quite sure what to do to mark her 25th.

"But we knew she had been saving for a trip to Memphis, so we made a contribution to help her on her way."