AFTER more than 30 years the owner of a beloved chippy in Barrow is calling it a day.

June Devlin, 64, has been serving up fish and chips to the people of Barrow for three decades.

But after 33 years behind the counter, 20 them as owner, she is finally closing down her pride and joy, Dev's Plaice.

Mrs Devlin said: "I've been there for 33 years, but there must've been a chip shop there for 80 years.

"I've had the shop for 20 years gone April, but I worked for the previous owner for 13 years."

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For most of her life Mrs Devlin has worked hard to make sure that people had food on their table.

As well as working at the fish and chip shop, she also worked as a dinner lady at the former Thwaite Street Infant School and Alfred Barrow School.

She said: "The children that I first got to know in infant school now come in with their own children.

"They say 'that was my dinner lady'.

"It's just wonderful."

On the eve of Mrs Devlin's retirement, she has become part of Barrow's food history.

Over the course of 94 years there have been at least four fish and chip shops at 195 Rawlinson Street.

In 1928 it was recorded in the Barrow and district year book that a "fish saloon" was run at that address by a CH Parker.

Tracing back the building's history further, the building was the home of a "chip potato dealer" run by an I Tolly in 1922.

In spite of its long history, Mrs Devlin has not been able to find a buyer to take it off her hands once she retires.

She said: "It's been on the market for a couple of years. I had a buyer last year but, after six months, they decided that they weren't going to go ahead."

This is an emotional subject for her, as she has spent more than half her life working at the shop.

She said: "I feel so sad that it could close down. I'm devastated, the customers are devastated.

"I feel like the agony aunt in that shop. I even have a couple of regulars who come in just to chat."

Although she wishes she could continue, Mrs Devlin has had to call it quits due to medical issues.

"There has to be a closing date, my mind doesn't want to, but my body is telling me otherwise," she said.

In the final month before the shop closes, Mrs Devlin will keep doing what she has for decades - serving people fish and chips.

She said: "It's like family down there, the customers are amazing. It's just a shame to see something go because of a lack of interest."

The light will go off one last time at Dev's Plaice on September 24.

After that, Mrs Devlin will be able to enjoy her retirement alongside her two grown-up children, and her four grandchildren.

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