A MARKET stallholder is hanging up his apron after more than 60 years of trading.

Norman Hudson began working on Stockton’s market in 1948. He was 11 when he began helping his uncle, the well-known market trader Harry Marsh.

Mr Hudson said: “As soon as I was old enough to lift a box, they had me down here on the market.

“I often wonder how I managed to add things up at such a young age, but I guess I was always pretty good at maths.

“Saturday is going to be a sad day. I think my wife Pat is more keen on retiring than me, but I still have plenty I could be getting on with.

“It’s the people I’ll miss the most; you become almost like an agony aunt when you’re stood on the stall.”

As Mr and Mrs Hudson began to wind the stall down ready for their retirement tomorrow, hoards of well-wishers stopped by.

Bob Harbron, 81, said: “I’ve been coming to this stall for the last 40 years.

“Norman and Pat will be missed, they are two of the last true characters left on the market.”