Irene Astbury, reported to be Britain’s oldest pet shop worker at the age of 96, has been making national newspaper headlines this week.

Irene, who opened Pet Food Supplies Ltd in Macclesfield, Cheshire, in 1981 has had her story featured in daily newspapers, including the Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Daily Express and Metro.

She is reported as saying: “I’m not giving up until they tell me to clear off.”

The great grandmother of seven worked five days a week at the store until the pandemic struck, and now goes in for around 25 hours over three days.

The shop is now run by run by her grandchildren Gayle and Stuart and Irene jokes: “I have nothing better to do, I want to keep my on them all.”

Pictured: Irene, seen here fourth from the right, with the Pet Food Supplies team when the shop celebrated its 40^th anniversary in 2021.