A MARKET trader who has been selling fruit and vegetables from his stall at Earlestown for more than 50 years is to retire.

Geoff Cornthwaite, along with wife Ruth, has been part of the furniture at Earlestown market, building up a loyal customer base.

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Today (Friday, July 26) sees Geoff and Ruth pack up the stall for the final time to signal the end of a long era.

And it is an era which started before Geoff first came to the stall as a child in 1963.

The business was started by Geoff's great-aunt Edith and husband Tom Lawson during the Second World War to help with the shortage of eggs at the time.

"It started in the war as an egg stall," said Geoff, 65.

"We had a poultry farm in Pilling, 18 miles north of Preston. There was a shortage of eggs in towns and our area was an egg producing area.

"They wanted us to provide eggs, that's how it started."

Eventually Geoff's dad John took over the business and Geoff remembers going to help at the stall as a child for the first time back in 1963.

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A book listing egg sales from the 1960s

"I was eight years old when I first came here, frightened to death as a country lad, shy. I came to enjoy it. It has a village community feel to it.

"I started coming regularly and came with my dad and friend of my mother's Enid Preston. I started coming constantly in 1978 and took over from my dad in 1988."

Geoff's now wife Ruth started joining him around 23 years ago and the business has built a strong customer base, who have visited the stall each Friday.

To mark Geoff and Ruth's final day, a ceremony was held with a certificate presented by Earlestown councillor Dave Banks.

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And an emotional Geoff expressed his gratitude to all of the business' customers.

"I would like to thank the staff and all of my customers. They are lovely people, really lovely people here.

"We will be coming back to visit people."

Geoff added: "This town really depends on the market, it is a very good market.

"It is important to have a weekday market in a town, and one of the most important things is free parking.

"It's an emotional day, I just hope the market continues.

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