The Leeds newsagent back behind counter at shop where she grew up
Tracey Lally is happy to be back behind the counter at the newsagents her late parents ran when she was a child.
Tracey's parents Malcolm and Maureen Allen owned and ran Allen's Newsagents on Commercial Street, Rothwell, for 22 years before retiring in 1989.
The business was then operated by other companies for more than 30 years before Tracey took over in April 2020.
Mum of one Tracey, 58, who grew up in the flat above the shop, said the business now does more than 500 newspaper home deliveries per day - including around 100 copies of the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“Some of them started because it was Covid lockdown,” she said. “But they have continued with it because they like having their papers delivered.”
Tracey said more than 200 new customers have signed up for home deliveries since she took over.
Tracey was just five years old in 1967 when her parents first bought Moxons newsagents on Commercial Street, which they ran for around six years.
They then bought some land on Commercial Street and built the current Allen's shop and flat.
The family lived above the business they ran up until retiring in 1989.
Malcolm Allen died aged 67 in 2002 and his wife Maureen died aged 72 in 2007.
Tracey said: "The customers are lovely and they remember my mum and dad. It's a happy family shop that people love coming to.
"People in Rothwell are very loyal. Some can remember me from being five, because I used to serve in the shop then."
Allen’s Newsagents deliver papers to customers in Rothwell, Woodlesford, Oulton, Robin Hood, Lofthouse, Stanley and Carlton.
Tracey, who worked for First Direct Bank at Stourton for 23 years, said: “I'm happier than I have been for years.
“ I feel like I have come home. I absolutely love it. I never stop, I'm always changing things around and getting new stock in.
“ I feel like I'm back where I belong. I'm very happy with my lot.”
Home delivery of newspapers courtesy of newsagents across Leeds continues to be an important service during the pandemic.
The YEP has always had readers that have been unable to leave their homes for whatever reason, but with many more people being forced to stay home that number has increased dramatically over the last 12 months.
This has led to the home delivery service becoming a lifeline for many customers.
Simon Hackett, YEP content sales support manager, said: "I would like to recognise the amount of time and effort that newsagents have put in to ensuring that the Yorkshire Evening Post has been delivered, day in day out, in the most trying of circumstances.
"It is only with their help that we have been able to keep some of our most vulnerable readers informed over the last year."