A 75-year-old concierge at Thornton Hall has been shortlisted for an Employee of the Year award.

Joe Clarke, originally from Stalybridge, has been shortlisted at this year's Merseyside Independent Business (MIB) Awards.

Now in its sixth year, the awards are designed to celebrate independent businesses, their owners and those who support them.

Joe will find out if he has won the coveted title at the award's ceremony at Liverpool's Rum Warehouse on Thursday, October 10.

General manager of Thornton Hall, Geoff Dale told the Globe: "We are delighted that Joe has been shortlisted for the Merseyside Independent Business Employee of the Year award.

"Joe has worked at Thornton Hall for 16 ½ years and is a fundamental part of the team.

"Joe is a friendly face to guests arriving at the hotel and a familiar face to our regular corporate guests, and many a returning leisure guest.

"Joe really is an outstanding example of what an Employee of the year should be!"

Judging will take place over two days with two different judging panels which are made up of eight professionals from across the Liverpool City Region.

One panel will decide the shortlisted finalists and the other decides the winners from those shortlists.