TWO Eastleigh council officers who have each clocked up 25 years' service in local government have been saluted at a special presentation ceremony.

Eastleigh mayor Councillor Glynn Davies-Dear presented gifts to benefits support officer Elish Hampton and assistant head of development control Ted Howles.

Elish started her career in local government in 1969 with the former Winchester Rural District Council and joined the new Eastleigh Borough Council as a rent assistant the day the new authority started, after local government reorganisation in 1974.

Five years later she left to bring up her family but returned to work at the Borough Council's rating office in 1988. Since then she has undertaken cashier duties and, more recently, work on the recovery of housing benefit.

Ted Howles joined Eastleigh council in 1978 as the authority's senior policy planning officer. His first task was to develop a new local plan for the Hound, Hamble and Bursledon area and his work on the plan also led to the setting up of the Itchen Hamble Countryside Project.

Subsequently, he was closely involved with the Airport Development Brief, which led to the revamped Southampton International Airport.

In 1994 he moved from planning policy to development control. In 2002 Ted moved within the department to head the enforcement section.

The mayor presented Elish with a signed David Shepherd print while Ted opted for a set of timing instruments for his rally car.