One of the oldest independent cafes in Berkshire is celebrating its 150th birthday - and its 81-year-old owner is still working full-time.

The Empire Cafe on Cheap Street in Newbury has been serving up traditional cakes and baked goods to customers since 1874. 

And this month will mark 150 years in business.

Owner Wendy Berkeley's parents bought The Empire Cafe from the previous owners in 1947. 

Mrs Berkeley has been working at the cafe for more than 60 years - and is still working full-time at the age of 81. 

"We're probably one of the oldest independent businesses that has remained on one site in Newbury," Ms Berkeley said. 

As many cafes have and come and gone, Mrs Berkeley puts their longevity down to 'mastering the art' of producing 'good quality' and traditional products. 

"We don't do gimmicks here," she said. "Most days we have people come in and say that they used to come to us as a child. We haven't changed with the times, and there isn't that many places that have that sort of continuity."

When asked what The Empire Cafe's bestsellers are, Ms Berkeley says lardy cakes and Chelsea buns always fly off the counters. 

A lardy cake is made by using bread dough to which lard, sugar, and fruit are added before being folded like making puff pastry.

Mrs Berkeley said: "It does make you a bit old hat in the young trendies' eyes, but people still come back and ask if we're still doing lardy cakes and marshmallow cones. We do all sorts of traditional things, we've been doing the same things for donkey's years."

Behind the scenes is a hardworking team who work long hours to produce the baked goods that keep returning customers coming back day after day. 

"I have a full-time baker who currently works nights," Ms Berkeley said. "I do a fair amount of baking myself."

While the baked treats remain popular from the bakery, the owner said she will be looking at changing the cafe menu. 

"The menu at the moment is too extensive for the amount of footfall we are receiving now," she said. "That is where you do get quite a lot of wastage, it is quite a juggling act sometimes."

The cafe offers a traditional menu offering everything from cooked breakfasts to bacon sandwiches to sausage rolls and sweet treats.

A slice of toast will set you back 75p while a plain bacon sandwich costs just £2.70, according to its online menu. In comparison, a bacon sandwich at Greggs costs £3.95.