A LONG-SERVING Newton Abbot businesswoman has been made an honorary freeholder by the town’s Court Leet and Baron.

Margaret Sanders, who started Sanders confectionery and tobacconists in 1970, was given the honour in recognition and appreciation of her many years service to retail.

She bought a shop in Bank Street with her husband Stan in 1970 and ran it as S G and M H Sanders until 1987 when it was sold to her nephew Rodney Pollard.

When Rodney retired in 2007, Margaret’s daughter Julie bought the business and in 2008 branched out by opening a newsagents in Courtenay Street.

Julie closed her Bank Street store and concentrated on her new hub, but in 2013 she shut up shop and relocated to Union Street.

Doors to the Union Street base closed for good earlier this year amid dramatic changes to the high street and rising costs.

Mum Margaret helped out at the shop right up until closing day at the end of January.

Members of the Court Leet and Court Baron presented Margaret with a certificate at a meeting earlier this month.

She was ‘very pleased’ to receive the accolade.