A FAMILY newsagent and post office is celebrating 50 years serving the community.

Lilian Holmes was there at the beginning, when her mother's business, Stevens, first moved into the shop in Neville Parade, Newton Aycliffe, in 1952.

But the origins of the business go back further.

Lara Stevens obtained a tobacco licence after she became a widow in 1936 and started selling cigarettes and sweets from her home in Simpasture, before Newton Aycliffe even existed.

When the town started in 1948, Mrs Stevens was allocated the first shop in converted farm buildings at Clarence Farm, on the site of what is now Finchale Road.

She established the town's first post office there in June 1950 and became Aycliffe's first sub-postmistress.

Her daughter, Doris, soon joined the business and Mrs Holmes followed in 1951, aged 21, after a spell working at the Aycliffe Approved School.

When the town was extended, Stevens moved into one of the first shopping areas at Neville Parade in 1952, where it is today.

Mrs Stevens retired in 1961 and Mrs Holmes and her husband opened a shop in Beveridge Way, while Doris and her husband continued in Neville Parade.

Mrs Holmes' son, Stephen, and two partners from the Beveridge Way shop, took over at Neville Parade in 1986. Stephen became the sub-postmaster in 1989 and he remains in the post today.

Although Mrs Holmes and her husband retired in 1993, both continue to help out in the shop they love.

She said: "I always wanted to work in an office, but once I started in this business I got to know everybody who came to live in the town.

"It's such a friendly town and we still have customers coming here who say they remember going to mum's shop in the house and the converted farm building."

She said: "I've enjoyed every minute and this shop, in particular, has the nicest lot of customers anyone could wish to have.

"We are on Christian name terms with everyone in here.

"We know all the customers and they know all of us.