Having a friendly face - even behind a mask - has meant Laura Hamilton has shared many stories of loss, fear and happiness.

Laura Hamilton, 47, from Cleator Moor, works at the WH Smith outlet at the West Cumberland Hospital.

"Sometimes people just want to share - and I think I have a friendly face," said Laura who, originally from Londonderry, has been in Cumbria for 27 years.

"I have listened to people scared because they are about to undergo cancer treatment. There are people who have lost loved ones and people relieved that their family is leaving hospital well You do hear it all."

Unusually, Laura was not nominated for person of the week by our readers but by Viv Paterson, CN reporter.

My husband is in hospital. He is surrounded by kind, friendly but very busy staff in a ward where Covid restrictions mean he is unable to watch TV, and cannot concentrate to read so visitors are so important. On this particular day my eyes were playing up and I felt unsafe driving.  

Friends who would normally help out were not available so I decided to take a train.

You have one-hour visiting slots at the West Cumberland and no slot fitted in but I managed one that would leave me just 15 minutes late.

Through a misunderstanding, I got to Whitehaven to find my taxi was not there. I rang the taxi company and they eventually arrived. 

I got to my husband's bedside with only 15 minutes of visiting left- and then discovered I had lost my mobile.

Reception was closed and the volunteers had gone home. WH Smith was open so I asked the woman - Laura - for help.

I couldn't remember the name of the taxi company but Laura, in between customers, took over.

She rang a taxi driver she knew and got him to ask around. She ordered a taxi for me and I was barely out of Whitehaven before she called the taxi company to say my phone had been found in the taxi I had taken to the hospital. 

She arranged for it to be picked up. After weeks of caring and worrying about my husband, I have remained fairly stoic. This random act of kindness, however, tipped me over the edge and I have had to return to the shop just to prove I am not always a blubbering mess. 

Thank you, Laura - you are definitely my person of the week!

READ MORE: Strike action across West Cumbria coast railway line