Ann Briggs, who has retired from the Spinning Jenny at Flasby, has been described as the “mainstay” of the business.

Mrs Briggs was with the needlework specialist shop for 25 years and was already working at the business when it was bought by Wendy Riley 17 years ago.

Mrs Riley said: “Ann has tremendous knowledge of the product and a wonderful way with customers. She has been the mainstay of the business.”

Mrs Briggs, 62, worked with the founder of the shop, Jennifer Whitaker, when it was based in Bradley.

“When I bought the business in 1996, we moved to Kildwick where we traded for 11 years before moving to Flasby about six years ago,” said Mrs Riley.