A REMARKABLE receptionist at the Waterfront Leisure Complex has won a national award after a mum told how she had a 'heart of gold'.

Karen Leith, 51, a mum-of-three from Greenock received the gong as part of the WOW Awards for Outstanding Customer Service.

The person who nominated was a mum who was taken aback by the fuss Karen made of her son, who has Down's syndrome.

Karen said: "It's lovely to win this.

"I was quite embarrassed because I don't like being centre of attention.

"It was quite overwhelming.

"I heard someone had won a special award but never thought it would be me.

"I really was not expecting it."

The customer who nominated Karen said she had been on the front desk when she went to the centre for a day out.

She said: "It was my son's birthday and he announced that to Karen when she served us.

"She chatted away to my son and daughter, asking them their names and ages.

"When we left she presented my son with sweets and chocolate cake and decorated the box with my son's name with 'happy birthday' written on it.

"She even sang happy birthday to him and included my daughter by giving her some sweets too.

"As a family we were overwhelmed.

"My son still talks about the singing lady.

"Karen has a heart of gold."

Inverclyde Leisure invites its customers to nominate members of staff for a WOW Award and has taken part in the national programme for the last five years.

Karen, of Gateside Gardens, originally worked at the Hector McNeil Baths for six years and then moved to the Waterfront when it opened in 1997.

She said: "I love my job and working with the public.

"I love making people happy."

Karen went through a rollercoaster in her personal life six years ago and says it set her on a journey of self development.

Over the past four years she has become a certified life coach, hypnotherapist and she is also a 'neuro-linguistic programming practitioner' who works with individuals to help them to control their emotional state and stay focused on what they want from life.

She said: "I became single after 27 years with my husband and I thought 'there's got to be more to life than this'.

"I got myself sorted and started to use it on people in here, in reception.

"I just love helping people."

As well as bringing her up her own three children, Karen also acted as a surrogate for her cousin who had suffered 13 miscarriages because of a blood disorder.

She gave birth to a healthy baby boy who is now 15 and living with his parents in New York.

Jim Lyon, Inverclyde Leisure operations manager, said: "Customers can nominate staff at each centre or online and there is an annual ceremony.

"Karen's particular nomination was picked out from thousands last year.

"It says a lot about Karen and the passion she has for her job and for people."

All the staff who were nominated attended an in-house presentation and lunch and Karen will attend the glittering national awards ceremony in Manchester on May 14.

Jim said: "It's a really positive thing and good for staff morale."