SHERBET dabs, penny mixes and cough sweets nestle beside eggs, steradent and firelighters.

An old fashioned shop in Appleton Village reached the end of an era this week as newsagent Elsie Ratcliffe retired, after 35 years.

"I'll miss the people," said sprightly gran Elsie, who wakes up at 4.30am to prepare the morning paper round.

"We know all our customers by their first name."

If a paper boy rings in sick, she dashes out.

She even dropped off 60 Silk Cut when an elderly customer phoned up to say she was too ill to leave her home.

"It's the personal service that makes us different," said Elsie, who has not had a holiday since 1996. "We've got a lot of older customers who come in and sit down on our little stools for a chat."

Elsie's late husband, Bill, spotted the shop for sale in 1969, when they were bringing up their two sons, Neil and Paul.

"It was all go," recalled Elsie, who has four grandchildren. "My husband worked at Albrights and did the papers before he went to work. My mother, Alice used to help until she was 80."

Elsie's sister, Joyce Weir, who is also retiring, said: "I came for a fortnight and stopped 15 years! It's a friendly shop.

"We've received some beautiful cards, presents and bouquets. We'd like to thank all our customers."

Their bodies have become like alarm clocks, they're so used to their dawn routine.

Elsie, said: "It'll be funny, we'll be jumping out of bed at 4am and running out of the house until we realise we don't have to go this morning!"

Widnes couple David and Sue Case have taken over the business.