WARM tributes have been paid this week to a Ledbury greengrocer business which is celebrating 50 continuous years of serving the town.

MA and TA Jenkins in the Homend, run by Mark Jenkins, is one of the oldest small businesses in Ledbury, having been founded in mid-July, 1966, by Mark's father, Reg "the veg" Jenkins.

For two years, Mark's father served the town with a mobile shop, then moved into a shop in New Street, before moving into the current premises in the Homend, some 46 years ago.

Mark Jenkins, now 56, took over the business in 1993, and he has personally spent 40 years behind the counter in total, helped by his wife, Tracy, for many of those.

Griff Holliday, of the Ledbury Food Group. "It is one of our independent greengrocers; - something that very few towns have nowadays, and something we should cherish."

Homend retailer, Steve Crowe, of Past and Present jewellers in The Homend said: "It's wonderful; it shows how vibrant the town is for small retailers, that you can survive for so long in the town centre, and still be going strong."

Martin Eager, owner of The Homend Shopping Mall and a town councillor said: "Considering the pressures on small independent businesses, congratulations are in order. Mark has done a wonderful job, keeping the business going, when elsewhere in the UK, greengrocers are a dying breed.

"It's great he's been here for so long, keeping up the tradition."

Mr Jenkins says he still very much enjoys his time in the shop, "especially the banter you get with the customers".

He said: "I do enjoy it, although I'm finding it a bit hard doing six days a week and 60 hours a week; but it's just a way of life, really."

Mr Jenkins also believes there is a key to his success.

"I keep my produce local, off local farms; as much as I can."