A SECOND-HAND book-shop in Clitheroe is closing after 13 years.

The owners of Bowdon Books blame a fall in sales and tough market conditions in the second-hand book trade as the reason for closure.

In January this year, the award-winning Kaydee’s Bookshop in the town closed after 60 years with a loss of nine jobs.

Now, only one independent bookshop, Clitheroe Books, in Moor Lane, remains in the town.

Gordon and Gillian Hill, who have been in the book trade for 23 years, are planning early retirement after closing up their shop and textile art gallery in Lowergate.

The couple, who live next door to the converted cottage premises, have slashed their prices to sell all their stock before December 31.

Mr Hill said: “The relentless downturn in the second-hand book trade has become increasingly difficult in recent months and made running the shop decreasingly enjoyable.

“We have been in this business for 23 years and have never owed any money to anyone and we want to stay like that so we are quitting while we are ahead.”

The couple’s first shop, also called Bowdon Books, was in Oswaldtwistle where they bought the entire stock of another closing book store in 1989 and set about learning their trade.

However, in 1996 they were forced to move after sales began to dwindle.

The 68-year-old grandfather-of-five added: “We decided to relocate to Clitheroe and combine our home and shop and luckily we found two adjoining cottages which we set about converting.

“It has been a very good business until recently and we will really miss some of the superb people we have met over the years.”

During their time as book traders in Clitheroe, they have had several memorable customers, including someone who bought a leather-bound copy of The Roadmender by Michael Fairless, for the retiring Speaker of the house of Commons, Betty Boothroyd.

The couple, who founded the Ribble Valley Book Fair at Whalley Abbey, will now apply for planning permission to convert the building back into a house.

The shop is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

l WHSmith is opening a store in Clitheroe town centre in November. The national retailer will move into the former Woolworth store in Castle Street.