Half a century of serving fruit and veg to hundreds of customers was marked by a morning-long celebration at a St Albans shop.

Among those who popped into E. S. Hulse and Sons in Cell Barnes Lane, to enjoy champagne, cake and canapés was the Mayor of St Albans, Cllr Annie Brewster.

She was joined by plenty of customers whose families had been shopping there since the opening in 1963 and Pam Hulse who started the business with her late husband Eddie, enjoyed her reunion with many of them at the celebration.

The shop also has a large wholesale business which supplies fruit and veg to schools, old people’s homes and the like. Manageress Jackie Webb, who has worked at the shop for the past 42 years, said: “It was absolutely lovely, We did the shop up with balloons, banners and changed the sign on the window.”