The owners of a Norfolk hardware shop have successfully sold it on as a going concern.
Having clocked up almost 50 years at the long-established Larter & Ford hardware-store-cum-cookshop in Diss, John Maskell felt it was time to retire. The business is now in the hands of Julian Mason and his brother-in-law Carl Edwards, for whom Mr Maskell's wife Julie will continue to work.

The shop started life in 1832 as the Aldridge Brothers iron foundry before becoming Larter & Ford in 1940. Clarence Curson took the business over in 1961, John Maskell joining it a few years later after marrying Mr Curson's daughter Shelagh.

The couple later took on the running of the shop until Shelagh's death some 30 years ago, after which Mr Maskell's second wife Julie stepped into the role.

New owner Julian Mason is already familiar with the business, having had a part-time job there for some years. He said he had no plans to make changes and that the shop would retain the Larter & Ford name.