THE owner of a Fenland takeaway will serve her last customers tomorrow after selling her business of nine years.

Claire Rose started Big Al’s Plaice with her father Alan when they moved to Doddington in 2002 after Mr Rose’s wife died suddenly.

The pair used to run a cafe underneath Hunstanton pier but Ms Rose has called time on serving fish and chips to spend the summer with her children, two years after her dad left to work on his Doddington farm.

She said: “I would like to say a big thank you to my customers for the support. It was a big decision to close but I just want to spend some more time at home before choosing what to do next.”

Jo Gregory, Big Al’s manager, will also be spending the summer with her children. She said: “It’s been great working for Claire over the years and it will be good for her to take a break from running this place 24 hours of every day.

“It came as a shock when she told us that Big Al’s was going to be sold, but after myself and the other two staff members heard Claire’s reasons we understood why she wanted to close.”

Ms Rose said: “I’m leaving the place in good hands and I wish the new owners all the best for the future.”

A few teenagers who turned up as the pair opened said they couldn’t sell the business as it wouldn’t be the same again.