A WOMAN who has worked at the Hardshaw Centre for 20 years was chosen to star in the BBC's Eurovision advert due to her services in the community.

A stalwart of the Hardshaw Centre, Karen Hall was recognised at BBC Radio's 'Make a Difference Awards' last year, which celebrates the people who go "above and beyond" in their local community.

Nominated by her husband Ian, Karen won the Key Worker Award after dedicating two decades of hard work to the Hardshaw Centre, and always making herself available to lend an ear or support to anyone inside the shopping centre.

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St Helens Star: Karen with her Make A Difference award Karen with her Make A Difference award (Image: Karen Hall)

Following on from her award win, the Harshaw cleaner was contacted by BBC representatives in the lead-up to Liverpool's hosting of Eurovision.

Wanting the advert to be filled with a host of people who work to better their communities, BBC bosses asked Karen to film a short cameo as the news travels about Liverpool becoming the host city.

With 37 countries taking part in Eurovision and the advert beaming all over the world, that means that the Hardshaw Centre cleaner got to be a "part of history".

St Helens Star: Karen featured as the news spread about Liverpool becoming the Eurovision host cityKaren featured as the news spread about Liverpool becoming the Eurovision host city (Image: Karen Hall)

Karen said: "Once the BBC got in touch, I was taken aback by it all, to be honest. I just thought of all the people they could have asked to be a part of it, they've asked me.

"I didn't have any idea what was going to happen but the fact that my little clip got shown around the world is amazing, and I just felt so lucky and so happy that I got to be a part of it.

"[Eurovision] really brought the city alive and with it being in Liverpool and all of the tributes to Ukraine, it really did feel like being a part of history."

St Helens Star: Karen said she felt so lucky and so happy to be a part of the advertKaren said she felt so lucky and so happy to be a part of the advert (Image: Karen Hall)

After her proud moment was broadcast to millions, Karen said she travelled to Liverpool to soak up the Eurovision atmosphere with her husband.

While things are still up in the air about her job with the Hardshaw Centre due to be demolished, Karen has been going to work with an even bigger smile on her face after the advert was broadcast and will "always be there to help anybody out" at the shopping centre.