Penarth's award-winning independent book shop Griffin Books celebrated its seventh birthday yesterday.

Owner Mel Griffin dreamed of having a bookshop since working in her local store as a teenager.

After 30 years working in IT, she was finally able to realise that dream when she bought the established bookshop in Penarth on the retirement of the previous owners in 2014.

"We've been so busy with summer, and then thinking about back to school now that we actually didn't realise at first," said Mel.

"We had some cake with a little candle to celebrate."