Free book from mother and daughter team

Yvonne Tilling is in partnership with her mother Monica Hayhoe at the High Street South convenience store, which is offering a free paperback book with every copy of the Dunstable Gazette this week, while stocks last.

The family business has been owned by the Hayhoes for more than 60 years.

Yvonne said: “My mother was in her early twenties when she came to work here and she eventually bought the business, which is believed to be the oldest newsagents in the town.”

Hayhoe’s used to also be a Post Office, but those services were cut by the government two years ago.

Now the business concentrates on selling newspapers and food, and keeping customers happy.

Yvonne loves the family atmosphere of the shop and talking to the shoppers.

She said: “Most of our customers we know personally. Over the years we have known all the generations of some families.”

An avid reader of the Gazette, Yvonne enjoys catching up with the latest news.

“It keeps us up to date about what’s going on in the town,” she said. “I like to see people’s opinions on the letters page and if we need any help as a local business, the Gazette run stories for us to help.

“They are always interested if you contact them.”