A popular family newsagent is set to retire today after over 40 years serving a town.

Audrey White, 61, owner of News Shop in High Road, North Weald, will be unemployed for the first time since the age of 20 after selling the shop to local man, David Stallan, this year.

Mrs White took over the shop from her father-in-law, who bought the shop in the 60s, and her late husband, who passed away in 1991.

After retiring the mother-of-two plans to “rest for the first time in 40 years”.

She said: “The time is right, it gets to the point where you have to pull up the drawbridge and move on.

“I am glad the shop has been sold to a local who will be a familiar face to regular customers.

“I have had a great time working at the shop, I have seen generations grow, my first paperboys now have sons who are paperboys. I will miss it."