Meet the Luton deli owner who's been working 24/7 for the past four decades

She’s known to all her customers as Mama – a warm and sociable woman who treats everyone who visits her shop as family. And who’s never lost her Italian accent, in spite of living in the UK for almost half a century.

Septuagenarian Leticia Testa is a people person. She says: “We have every nationality here – Polish, Romanian, Italian, British. I like to be with people, I’m friendly to everybody, I give them my heart.”

She’s also a workaholic – the Italian Continental deli on Chapel Street is open from 9am to 7pm seven days a week.

It’s a veritable Aladdin’s Cave of goodies – and not just the Italian delicacies for which it’s famous. There are beautiful hand-embroidered cloths on a shelf next to crockery, stationery and kitchen equipment. You can buy shampoo, soap and a lottery ticket as well as all manner of liquor.

Leticia comes from a small village called Avellinio, near Naples. It’s where she met and married her carpenter husband Generoso, who sadly died a few years ago.

She started training as a seamstress at the tender age of seven, learning how to cut and sew at after-school classes. And she always dreamed of having her own dress shop.

Leticia and Generoso originally settled in Bedford and had five children. She was employed as a tailoress, working late into the night after the children had gone to bed.

Then the offer of the Luton shop came up and the couple turned it into a big success.

Former social worker Andy Strowman, who lives in Harpenden, is one of Leticia’s most stalwart supporters.

He says: “Like many of her customers, I’ve known her for years. What makes the shop so unique is the different characters it attracts and the friendly atmosphere – lots of people stay to talk after they’ve bought what they came for.

"Leticia epitomises a time long gone when communities and people knew each other and helped each other. She represents the spirit of the old East End where I grew up.”

So does this local legend ever think of retiring? A shrug and a smile: “No, I would miss my customers too much.”