IT will be the end of an era for shoppers in Darwen when one of the town's longest running stores closes its doors for the final time.

Woodward's fruit and veg shop, in Blackburn Road, Darwen, is due to close on Saturday after 21 years of operation.

Owners, Maurice and Barbara Woodward, decided to retire so they could spend more time with their grandchildren, twins Elizabeth and Katrina, six, Alexandra, 12 and Robert, eight.

They said they had no immediate plans to move away because they were waiting for a buyer for the shop but they would eventually like to move back to the Sunnyhurst area.

Maurice, who will celebrate his 65th birthday the day before the shop closes, said he was sad to be leaving but hoped he would be able to keep in contact with his customers.

He said: "It will be great to retire because it's been a hard physical job for the last 21 years. But I've met a lot of lovely people who have been coming in here for years. The shop just doesn't make the money any more because of all the big supermarkets but we still have lots of nice people coming in and I'd like to thank them all for their support and friendship over the years."

Barbara, 60, said: "I've got mixed feelings about it. It will be strange at first because 21 years in here is like a little community. We won't be moving away. Our roots are in Darwen so hopefully we will still see everyone."