Caring Lorraine receives a top accolade for her work

Mrs Marshall, 51, who has worked with mentally and physically disabled people there for more than two decades, was selected from almost 900 people across the UK to be named winner of the prestigious award.

The mother-of-three was chosen from 27 finalists, who were drawn from 14 regions after a record number of nominations, and received 1000 in holiday vouchers.

The awards were created by Reed Social Care and are run in association with Sue Ryder Care.

Mrs Marshall said: "It is fantastic to receive this award, but the simple fact is that I just love being a carer - encouraging people, promoting independence and helping them live a better life.

"It is really rewarding working with older people. There is always lots of laughter and I love listening to their stories."

The grandmother-of-two started working at the centre, which supports people with physical or learning disabilities, or age-related infirmity, in February 1990.

Reed Social Care Director, Leslie Weare, said Mrs Marshall was a deserved award winner.

"We were delighted to receive so many nominations for a large number of exceptional individuals working in care and social work," she said.

"The judging panel had an extremely impressive selection of regional winners to chose from, and Lorraine was a deserved winner."

Mrs Marshall, who has never been abroad before, is considering spending her holiday vouchers on an overseas holiday.

She discovered she had won the award at the Reed Carer of the Year Awards in London's Waldorf Hotel last Thursday.

Mrs Marshall, who helped to set the Libertus Day Care Centre up in 1981, added: "I was very surprised and I felt over the moon.

"My husband James was over the moon too.

"I think he was more excited than me!

"I was told I had won the award because of my work with mentally and physically disabled people at the centre over the last 20 years."

Mrs Marshall received a total of six nominations for the award from people she cares for at the centre.

Part of the nomination read: "Lorraine puts so much effort into looking after us. Nothing is too much trouble for her.

"She is very kind and caring and always makes time to listen to anything you have to say, and can be depended on to help.

Mrs Marshall added: "I get a lot out of my job. I think I will be at the centre until I retire -if they will have me!"