Driver Hortense Hargreaves goes to great lengths to get her car serviced at her favourite garage – a round trip from France to Norwich of more than 2,000 miles.

The 68-year-old bought her Ford Mondeo from Busseys in Whiffler Road in 2006 when she was living in West Runton, near Cromer. While she has since moved to southern France, she continues to return to Norwich to get her car serviced.

Ms Hargreaves, who moved to Ceret in the Pyr�n�es-Orientales after falling in love with the area when she went there on holiday, said: 'I bought the car knowing I was moving to France. I always had a Mondeo and I knew I needed something sturdy and reliable.'

She said she returns to Norwich for the car's service because she is impressed with the service at Busseys, and when she eventually replaces her Mondeo she is likely to buy her next car there too.

'The service is what they promise it will be, and they do not do things if you do not want them to.

'They have got a wonderful bus service too. The whole package is encouraging,' she said. She added that her annual trip to Busseys gives her a good excuse to visit Norfolk. 'I like this part of East Anglia, the coast, Norwich and everything else,' she said, adding that among her plans for her visit were shopping trips to John Lewis and Marks and Spencer, and enjoying English food, especially scones. On her travels from Ceret to Norwich, Hortense went via Limoges and Caen to Calais. After travelling through the Channel Tunnel she went to Harrogate to visit her son John and granddaughter Lucy before heading to Norwich. Tomorrow she will begin her journey home.

Kevin Bygrave, senior service adviser at Busseys, said Hortense was one of Busseys' most far-flung customers, and said another driver travels to the garage from Spain. 'It is quite a compliment to us for them to come all this way,' he said.

Do you somebody who travels a great distance to use a service from a Norfolk business? Call reporter Emma Knights on 01603 772428 or email emma.knights@archant.co.uk