A CHARITY shop volunteer was delighted when a community group popped in and gave him an award for being his town’s best customer care assistant.

Dean Baker, 45, who works in Caldicot’s St David’s Hospice Care charity shop, received the honour after the town’s Community Working Together team organised an online poll.

Rachel Furmage, who set up Caldicot Community Working Together (CCWT) six months ago to promote the town and its businesses, said: “We were inundated with messages about how hard Dean works, how kind he is, how people within the community go to the shop especially to see him and how he is always smiling and helpful.

“On top of all this, Dean is a volunteer, he gives his time and love to Caldicot and expects nothing in return.

“We asked people to nominate the person who gives the best customer service, and Dean got by far the most votes. People kept saying how kind he was, and always smiling,” she said.

“Thank you so much for all you do for Caldicot, Dean, you truly are amazing.

“We also heard he was a bit of a bus fan, so we contacted Chepstow Classic Buses and asked if he could go and meet them and have a look around. They very kindly agreed, so thank you so so much for that, he was over the moon when we told him.”

Dean, who lives with his brother who also cares for him, said of the award: “It was a big surprise, I’m very happy.”

Shop boss Charmaine Fuller said: “Dean really goes above and beyond to help the customers.

CCWT encourages people to shop locally, organising events.