BANKER Anna-Maria Geare was surprised with a bouquet from traders' leader George Afedakis.

She received the flowers to mark her being nominated for a national award by her bank, Lloyds TSB.

Lloyds TSB business manager Mrs Geare organises business breakfasts with Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

She was nominated for a National Achievements Award by Lloyds TSB to recognise the work she does in the Weymouth and Portland community.

Mr Afedakis said: "You have to believe what you are doing in your life and the chamber of commerce congratulates Anna-Maria Geare on being given such a well-deserved accolade by the bank, partly for running these superb events so well for us all."

Mrs Geare is often on stage with Weymouth Operatic Society and co-ordinates the bucket collections after each performance, which raised £600 in February. This was split between the RNLI and Alzheimer's. She raised £1,300 in September for Barnardo's.

Her fundraising for WOS has totalled more than £10,000 in the last five years.

Mrs Geare and her husband Colin were invited to the bank's Gala Awards Dinner at the five-star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington.

She was one of only 50 staff nominated from all the UK for the National Achievements Awards. She was nominated by fellow Weymouth business manager Jeremy Weekes.

Mrs Geare said: "I have been so grateful to have received this nomination and recognition.

"But without the help of my colleagues and supporters in Weymouth and Portland, the chamber of commerce and the participants at the breakfasts, these events would not have been such a success."