FROM cleaning a sheikh’s house to looking after a pair of lovebirds, there is no job too big, small or unusual for Ruth Berrington.

There are no end of businesses that offer cleaners, dog walkers and office services, but few that do it all along with a host of other handy jobs.

Just the Job is a unique business that will do pretty much anything its customers want, from cleaning a sheikh’s home to writing someone’s Chrismas cards.

Ruth Berrington, 63, started her business in 1975 by walking around the town pushing leaflets through doors.

Back then Just the Job was a domestic agency and a onewoman band, but it has since added more and more strings to its bow and currently employs 15 people.

Miss Berrington, who lives above the little shop in London Road, Westcliff, from where she runs her thriving business, said: “At the time, when I started, there weren’t many domestic agencies around here and I thought everyone needs help sometimes for various things.

“I’m a people person and prepared to try my hand at anything.

I had worked at the Hilton in Nicosia years ago and my father was a nurseryman so I knew about gardening. I thought I would offer my services to people that wanted them.

“I used to do it on my own but word spread and I began to employ other people. At one point I had 40 people working for me but it depends on the economic situation of the time.”

The business has grown to offer a broad range of services, much like the Helping Hands agency in Carry on Regardless. Miss Berrington said: “We would have someone who would ask us to clean and then say I wish I had someone to do the garden as well and we’d just say we do that too.

“We offer typing services and someone who doesn’t have English as a first language might ask us to help with filling in forms. Some people aren’t familiar with the internet so we can order things for them.

“I’ve looked after a pair of lovebirds and someone’s ducks. We’ve looked after tropical fish and I’ve cleaned a sheikh’s house in Thorpe Bay. We even helped a ladywho had an eyesight problem by writing her Christmas cards for her.

“If people bring a problem to us and we can help, we always say yes.”

The business has become a popular part of the community and one which also helps the Ghurka Welfare Trust by selling books. It recently sent off a cheque for £1,000 to the charity.

Miss Berrington added: “We raise money for the Ghurkas because they fought for us in the war and yet they get no pension.

We don’t advertise. It’s all by word of mouth “We’ve built a good reputation and we’re trusted. The people who work here are all the type to go the extra mile for people and that counts for a lot these days.”