It was after Hazel married and left her job working at Binns in Sunderland that the idea of starting up an Avon round came to her.

“There was a lady called Mrs Nicholson covering the area at the time,” she said. “I decided I’d like to have a go and started it up in the September.

“I really enjoyed it and decided to keep it on and here I am 45 years later.”

Hazel, 66, who also works at Hopes chemist in Houghton, has kept the same round covering Fence Houses all those years, and she has vowed to carry on serving her customers for years to come.

“I love meeting people and doing the work I do,” she said. “I’ve built up good friendships and got to know my customers over the years.

“In the time that I’ve been working there have been several changes.

“The product range has got wider. When I first started it was mainly just perfumes for sale with some make-up.

“Now, you’ve got all sorts. There’s underwear, jewellery, handbags, hats and scarves and a lot of children’s products. There’s a very wide spectrum now.”

To mark Hazel’s dedication to the company, she was invited to an exclusive lunch with 19 other long-serving Avon reps at Rushton Hotel, Northamptonshire.

Hazel said: “When I first started my Avon business I would never have expected to have been chosen to attend such a special event.

“Avon has been a big part of my life and I’m really proud to be here today knowing that I have been part of the company’s success.”

Hazel’s coup comes just weeks after the Echo revealed dynamic duo Debbie Davis and Dave Carter raked in a whopping £5.5million and were crowned Avon’s top earners for the fourth year running.

The two Avon senior executive sales leaders, of Leechmere Grange, have 2,500 people working for them up and down the country after spending five years building up their Avon empire.