A FAMILIAR face from Tavistock Pannier Market has a retired after more than 30 years.

Last month Marlene Horrell, 80, was presented with gifts by her fellow traders, pannier market staff and market committee members to mark her years of dedicated work.

Having farmed for 50 years, Marlene and her husband Rupert moved to Tavistock.

With Marlene being a keen knitter and maker of children's clothes, they opened a market stall and sold the dresses and jackets that she made at home.

Marlene knitted garments and sewed tapestries, which people used to watch her producing as they visited the market each week.

They also sold children's books and toys, plus some sweeties, which added to the charm of their stall.

Marlene, a hard working member of the Market Traders' committee and an enthusiastic fundraiser, participated in and co-organised numerous charity events with the committee over the years.

She took part in Tavistock Carnival entries and was part of a first prize winning, group walking with a vehicle entry, four years ago.

The theme was 'celebration' and Marlene danced in a floor length, emerald green ball gown, to the music relayed from the vehicle, almost continuously, along the carnival route.

Marlene was described as a much loved local character who, though now retired, still hopes to occasionally appear behind her stall in the pannier market.