A COUPLE want to thank their loyal cafe customers after hanging up their aprons and shutting up shop for the last time.

Mike and Robbie Norris moved into Frank’s Cafe in Tyldesley in 1978 and kitted it out to look like a 1950s cafe, complete with jukeboxes and retro games.

But the couple have now given up the 120 hours they each worked a week at the red and white cafe on the corner of Elliott Street and Lime Street.

Mike, aged 61, said: “I will miss not working anymore and it is going to take some time to adjust. It has been two weeks but I’m still wide awake at two in the morning and having to force myself to go to bed so I don’t wake up the neighbours.

“It was just getting too much for us though, especially with the hours you have to work in the fast food industry; you have to be open for breakfast, lunch and right up to dinner and late at night.

“We could write books, and volumes of them, with the things we have seen and heard.

“We have so many anecdotes but the most memorable ones are a bit rude so aren’t always fair for me to share.

“I am always surprised when I go into other takeaways and cafes though at the lack of banter they have with their customers.

“I grew up here so a lot of our customers are friends and I would always have a joke with them.

“You need a sense of humour to work in the fast food industry with the hours we did.”

Mike and Robbie, aged 68, are now looking forward to spending more time with their family and grandchildren and want to dedicate more time to charity work.

Mike said: “You’ve got to change with the times so that is what we have done.

“We have received so many retirement cards from customers, it has been great and we just want to say thank you.”