TRADERS and customers at Tavistock's Pannier Market said their good byes to stall holders Jan and Phil Burgess, who are retiring after 15 years of trading.

Jan and Phil, who ran the Linen Press, were treated to flowers, wine, engraved glasses and a cake on their last day of trading by customers and fellow stallholders.

Jan said: 'We're a bit sad to be leaving but we feel the time is right — life is too short. We're going for a long trip to France in May and we'll have a lot more time to spend with our grand children.

'We had lots of customers coming up to us telling us how sad they were that we were leaving. We will miss everybody, the traders and the customers. We'd like to thank all the traders, market reeve and staff and of course our customers for our leaving gifts, cards and best wishes. Thank you also to the town councillors who have supported us and the market.

'We will miss the people very much. We wish all the traders good luck for the future, and in these difficult economic times we hope the market thrives as it used to.'

l Pictured above are Jan and Phil Burgess, receiving their gifts from Marlene Horrell, market Reeve Eddie Carruthers and Cllr Mandy Govier on behalf of all their friends.

Picture by James Bird