We have been asking readers to nominate people who go that bit further to make your shopping visit to the town a pleasure.

Our first three nominations will be familiar faces to most shoppers in the town: Alan Marshall from Kandy Kiosk, Caroline Merry from Thing Me Bobs and Marion Tredant from W H Smith.

Mr Marshall, 52, has been in the newsagents' business for the past 20 years and has been working at the Kiosk in the Borehamgate Precinct for the last three years.

Nominator Garry Clarke, of Gosfield, said: "Alan always provides a friendly and courteous service with a smile."

Mr Marshall said: "I enjoy what I do. I try and make everyone feel welcome, even if I'm not feeling 100% myself and it is nice that that has been recognised."

Most people would view the early starts as a downside of the job as a newsagent but Mr Marshall, who is up at 4am to open at 4.30am, does not agree. He said: "I am a morning person anyway, so I don't mind the early starts."

Our next nominee is another early starter.

Mrs Tredant, 57, from Acton, has been working at WH Smith, in North Street, for 13 years and is up every morning to take delivery of the morning papers.

"I really don't mind getting up," she said. "At this time of year, in particular, the drive in to work is lovely.

"It's lovely to know that someone thinks you are doing a good job. But I think it's more of a reflection of the shop as a whole. We are a great team and we all enjoy coming into work."

Nominator K Newman, of Talbot Road, Sudbury, said: "I feel very reassured every time I enter the store. She embodies the face of WH Smith for me.

"She has consistently given outstanding service to myself and many others I have witnessed throughout the many years she has been there.

"No-one delivers better, first-class customer service constantly like this remarkable lady."

The final nomination this week is Merry by name and merry by nature according to nominator Lesley Fisher, of Sandy Lane, Sudbury.

She said: "Caroline Merry is the most cheerful, friendly and helpful salesperson in Sudbury.

"There are not many shops you go in these days and come out feeling better, but Caroline is always the same and I think she should be recognised for making shopping that much more pleasurable."

Ms Merry, 51, has worked in Thing Me Bobs, in the Borehamgate Precinct, for close to three years.

She said: "I'm very proud that someone has nominated me.

"It is important to make your customers happy. I like to have a laugh with everyone and chat to them about things, and I think they enjoy that."