Retirement in store at age of 84

But now, at the age of 84, she has decided to retire and is passing the business on to her 24-year-old grandson Tom, who hopes he can produce another three decades of success.

Makinson's in Twentywell Lane, Bradway, Sheffield, opened its doors in 1981, and since then three generations of the family have helped, including Mrs Makinson's son Ian, 51.

He has decided to leave the business at the same time as his mother to pursue a new life in Cambodia, where he will work on a project to help people access education and healthcare.

Mrs Makinson said that when she bought the shop times were very different for local retailers, and added: "At the time there was only one big supermarket in Sheffield and hundreds of independent fruit shops in the Yellow Pages.

"But over 30 years we have adapted to meet the new competition and build on the strengths only a local shop can offer to the community."