A RECORD shop owner has pledged to keep on trading despite a difficult first year in business.

Michael Holland opened Fulbaechop in Bacup last May and, since then, has welcomed musical visitors from touring bands to Elvis impersonators.

The Yorkshire Street store, which doubles as an art gallery, is named after an old English word for Bacup.

Mr Holland, 30, of Cloughfold, is a fine art graduate who studied under the late Rossendale-based artist Dave Pearson.

He said: “It’s been quite a hard year. It’s difficult starting a business at the best of times, but even more so in the current climate.

“But it was never really about the money. Fulbaechop is about a space where I can be creative and where people can drop by to hang out if they want.”

Mr Holland spent time travelling in Canada, India and New Zealand before returning home to open his shop, but now visitors come from around the world to visit him.

Peter Furgiuele, a member of American indie-rock band Gringo Star, based in Atlanta, Georgia, called in during a recent UK tour.

He said: “We’d been to Bacup a few times before we made it down to see Mike at Fulbaechop.

“I thought the shop was really cool because of the diversity of records he had. I picked up a few old 45s.”

The shop trades in books, CDs and records, and at one point even flogged firewood as part of a clean-up campaign with Bacup Pride.

On another day, Fulbaechop was visited by an Elvis impersonator who arrived with Billy Fury.

Looking forward to another year in business, Michael said: “That was a fun day.

“I think there must have been a talent show on somewhere.

“But that’s what it’s all about; the people who come in, buy a few records, and stay for chat.”