A LONG-serving herbalist is preparing for retirement.

Pauline Wilson opened her Pauline’s Health Cabin stall in Durham Market Hall in 2001.

The 61-year-old, from Esh Winning, near Durham, is closing the stall at the end of January to spend more time with her family.

She said: “It was a very hard decision to make to close my stall, most of all because the customers, the Market Hall and other stall holders have played such an important part in my life for some time now.”

Colin Wilkes, managing director of Durham Market, said Mrs Wilson would be missed by everyone at the Hall and wished her the very best for her retirement.