GETTING up at the crack of dawn, every day for more than 30 years has become a way of life for one Bramhope couple.

But on Monday, newsagents Howard and Brenda Bell will be enjoying just their third day off in 33 years - after giving up their business.

Mr and Mrs Bell had their last brief two-day holiday in 1985 - when they moved from a newsagents shop in Headingley to Tredgold Avenue.

Since then, they've got up every day, seven days a week at 4am, rarely sat down for their evening meal before 9pm and from time to time, after a night out, not bothered going to bed at all.

But now, after spending the majority of their adult lives working around the clock, they're about to take their last newspaper delivery.

And if everything goes to plan, on Sunday they will hand over the keys to the shop's new owners.

The couple, who are both in their middle 50s and will stay in Bramhope, now plan to explore the world, maybe start up a new business and enjoy themselves before it is too late.

And right at the top of their list is a cruise to Australia where keen cricket fan, Mr Bell, aims to see his first ever live cricket match.

"My husband is a keen cricket fan and really wants to go to an Australian Test match. Even when we were in Headingley, the matches always started at 11am and he could never go, he always watched them on the television in the shop," said Mrs Bell.

Although they have no firm plans, they want to go on computer courses and will probably end up moving into another business.

"We will probably take on another business, but it won't be anything as pressurised as this.

"I'm going on a computer course and we're both going to explore what's out there," said Mrs Bell.

Meanwhile, Mrs Bell, who ran the stationery, sweets and toys side of the store, believes most people will find it difficult to believe the hours they have put into their two businesses.

"We've worked since we were both 15 and come from the generation that you worked for what you got and believed you never got something for nothing.

"Our last holiday was 30 years ago when we had a couple of days in Norwich before we took this shop. We've found it impossible to have holidays and have worked seven days a week, getting up at 4am for the papers and not sitting down for our evening meal until 9pm.

"We've still had a social life, and there's been times when we've been out to dinner, got back at 2am and just not bothered going to bed."

But she added they've had a wonderful time in Bramhope where they've made many friends.

"The hardest work has been done by my husband, he's always been wonderful with people, they all just love him."

As customers have found out about the Bells leaving, many have been very upset.

"We've had a very good relationship with people in the village and many have been pretty shocked, quite a few of them have been in tears," said Mrs Bell.

"When you're running a business and living in a village, you've got to learn to keep your mouth shut, we've always tried to keep our reputation and not gossiped.

"We've made an awful lot of friends and have run the shop to the best of our ability.

"We've had plenty of rows in the room out at the back, but we've always come out smiling.

Meanwhile, the Bells intend to make the cross over as smooth as possible and are spending the next couple of weeks shadowing the new couple.

Mrs Bell said: "It's going to be difficult not getting up every day at 4am, but we'll just take it easy and decide what to do next."