A CRAFT business owner has reassured shoppers she continues to trade despite closing her high street shop.

Vicki Herron, who runs Minerva Crafts with her parents Annette and Phil Ormerod said the firm was 'always available to help customers' after concerns were raised about the Atlas Road shop's closure.

The business, which began as a market stall in 1998, specialised in fabrics, sewing patterns, haberdashery and knitting yarn.

In 2003 the business expanded into online trading before moving to a 23,000 sq foot warehouse in Atlas Road.

The family decided to close the store on August 27 as Mrs Ormerod wanted to spend more time with her granddaughter.

Mrs Herron said: “We’ve been feeling the strain of trying to run it without mum there full time.

“We’ve known for about a year that we couldn’t carry on with it, so we decided the time had come to shut the shop.

“I understand that people will be sad to see the shop go but we are always available to help customers.

“We have a huge range of stock online and if people don’t like ordering online they can order over the phone.

“And if they don’t want it delivered they will be able to collect parcels directly from the warehouse.

“It’s a big change for us as well but the shop was such a small part of our revenue and the online side of the business is thriving so it was the right decision."