A barmaid from north Wales has proved her astounding power of recall by memorising the drinks of 250 regulars.

Kate Smith, from The Red Lion at Hope, in Wrexham, has joined the exclusive 250 Club for bar staff who go beyond the call of duty.

She told BBC Wales that it helped by being a local, which gave her a head start by knowing a number of her customers.

Modest

With a knowledge rivalling a London cabbie, the popular barmaid is modest about her achievement.

"You just remember it naturally," said Kate, 32, of Queensway, Hope.

"Being a local girl I know a lot of people, relatives and friends.

"I have been working at the Red Lion for a couple of years and I just get behind the bar and get on with serving the drinks."

Memory power

She added: "I just wanted to do my best in the job and I have already done the 100 Club and 200 Club and I have now gone about as far as I can go with it.

"Sometimes the customers do change their drinks and I have to ask them if they are having lager or bitter.

"Apparently, there are a lot more than 250 customers in the pub, but I do not know everyone."

The barmaid with ample memory power is quick to remember the most important drink of all - a gin and bitter lemon for landlady Wendy Chupeau.

The other Red Lion customers who benefit from Kate's first class service also raised their glasses to mark her entry into the 250 Club, which is run by pub chain The Inn Partnership.