A great-grandfather and popular North Laine market stall holder celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday.

John Magee, of Bexhill Road, Woodingdean, began working on his vintage market stall in Upper Gardener Street, when he was just 15 years old, with his father and still works there every Saturday.

The only Saturday you won’t find him greeting customers on his stall is if Christmas Day falls on a Saturday.

Not one for a fuss, the 90-year-old has decided to keep the celebrations low key, opting for a quiet meal with some of his relatives today followed by a day out with the whole family.

Sophie Magee, one of Mr Magee’s nine grandchildren, 25, of Langley Crescent, Brighton, said: “We wanted to do something bigger because there are so many people who love him and want to celebrate with him but he just wanted something small.

“He is just genuinely a really wonderful person. Everyone loves him – he has made so many friends down on the market stall.

“People come down just to see him and have a chat with him. We’ve said to him before he should give it up but he just won’t. He just loves what he does.”