Third generation of family ready to take over reins at popular Burnley sandwich shop

Donna Ashworth has given up her 20 year career in sales to take over the helm at the Clarets Sandwich Bar, which is in the shadow of Turf Moor and the first port of call for hundreds of Burnley fans on match days.

She decided to take on the business after her aunt, Susan Brown, who has run the shop for 20 years,felt it was time to hand over the reins.

Susan ran the shop with her mum, Lily Brown, who worked in the shop and ran the catering business Lily B's.

Susan, who also works at the Sainsbury's store in Burnley, said: "We took on the shop because we wanted something that we could all work in together and I wanted it to stay in the family."

Customers queue down the street, both before and after the games, at the shop and over the years Susan has got to know many of them.

She said: "We have seen fans come in here as children who are now grown up bringing their own youngsters and there is one customer, a Burnley fan who lives in Todmorden, who even rings up to let us know if he isn't coming."

Donna has worked in the shop previously over the years and her mum, Edna Wiggan, has also been on hand to help out on busy match days.

The shop will re-open on Monday, July 20th, and although football fans are not allowed onto the ground yet, Donna is confident that many of their loyal customers will be back.

Joining Donna in the business is her husband Chris, who will run the outside catering arm, Clarets Catering. He also comes from a catering background and spent 11 years as a chef in the British army.

And the fourth generation of the family to help out are Donna's son Lewis, (23) and her 14-year-old niece Abby Lawless.

Next in line are Donna and Chris's two youngest children, but they have some time to wait yet for Isobel is only eight and Archie just three.