One of the founders of BBC Radio Norfolk has retired after more than 40 years with the broadcaster. 

Jill Bennett trained as a journalist in the early 1970s and worked in South Africa and the Caribbean before settling in Norfolk.

She joined the Eastern Daily Press as a local government reporter and in 1980 moved to a position at the recently-established BBC Radio Norfolk as one of only two women on its full-time staff.

She said at one point she was "the only woman in news in the place". 

Eastern Daily Press: A carol service at Titchwell Church in 2014 where Jill Bennett appearedA carol service at Titchwell Church in 2014 where Jill Bennett appeared (Image: Newsquest)

The station read the first headlines on the evening of September 11 of the same year, with Jill leading the 6.30pm bulletin. 

She told the BBC: "I don't think I'd ever considered what being in front of a microphone involved before I joined.

"It was a combination of fear and excitement, in slightly unequal measure."

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By 1984, Jill was the station's news editor, one of only two female news editors on local radio at the time.

In 1999 she became the broadcaster's district reporter for West Norfolk, based in King's Lynn.

"I think I'm like most people who work for the BBC, I think it does amazing things," she added.

"I'm very proud to be part of it."