STALL holders at Portishead Country Market raised their tea cups in a toast to June Bennett who is celebrating 30 years with the weekly enterprise.

The 83-year-old joined the market as a trader in 1982 and took up the post of market controller 15 years ago.

In addition to organising the stalls and supervising the weekly event, June bakes savouries and cakes to sell at the market.

The spritely octogenarian says she enjoys every minute of her market duties and has no intention of retiring.

She said: “The market is my life, I absolutely love it. When my husband died 11 years ago, I don’t know how I would have got through it without the market and all my friends here.”

The market is held on Fridays at the Folk Hall in High Street between 9.45-10.45am.

There are a variety of stalls selling plants, crafts, local eggs, organic meat and baked goods, while teas and coffees are available to encourage people to make it a social meeting place too.

The main hall at the Folk Hall will be closed for several weeks for refurbishment in August, but it’s business as usual for the Country Market, which will move into the Fedden Room and the forecourt, weather permitting.