A landlady is celebrating 40 years at the same pub, which she says now feels like 'part' of her.

Carol and Roger Morris took over The Malvern Inn, in Clarendon Road, Dover on February 8, 1982.

It was the couple's first pub, although they had experience having helped out at a public house in Folkestone, ran by Roger's parents.

Mrs Morris, now 73, said: "I was 33 when I walked through the doors of The Malvern.

"It was our first pub. I had been helping out at Roger's parent's pub, The Royal George, in Folkestone.

"But we thought why don't we try and get our own?

"It was a bit run down, but we stood there and pictured what we wanted it to look like.

"It took a few years, but we got there."

Carol married Roger, who she met in Wales while he was in the RAF, when she was 17 years old.

After the couple left Wales, they moved to Folkestone, before moving to Dover in 1982.

They have four children together, Vanessa, David, Roger and Kelly, and also 20 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Roger sadly passed away from cancer, aged 75, last March.

Since then, Carol has been running The Malvern on her own, although family help out, including cleaning the pipes.

Mrs Morris says her favourite part of the job is interacting with her punters.

She said: "I could tell some stories, but I won't.

"I love it. People ask me about retiring but I don't want to. I'd go mad.

"My favourite part is being with people, we always have a good time and a laugh.

"I never thought I'd be a landlady in all my life. I went to help with washing up and a couple of other things at the pub in Folkestone. And I got on with everyone.

"I was quite shy back then. But now I can give as good as I get."

As with all restaurants and pubs, the pandemic saw The Malvern closing and reopening due to stints of national lockdowns.

Mrs Morris also lost her husband last year. But she says she "never thought about giving it up".

She adds: "The pub is my home. It's a part of me.

"It is a family pub. I've watched all the kids around here grow up and get married and have kids of their own."

Carol will mark her 40th anniversary at the pub with a party on Saturday night.