A long-established West Yorkshire ironmongery market stall that was set to close for good has had a last-minute reprieve.
A retired librarian has stepped forward to take over Williams Ironmongers, which started life 70 years ago in the old Huddersfield Market Hall and then moved into the replacement Queensgate Market Hall.

Richard Chadwick bought the business 10 years ago but closed it at the end of June, saying he could no longer compete with discount shops.

However, Bernadette Fanning has now picked up the baton and will be running the stall with Lem Lemanski, who has worked at Williams for 30 years.

The business has now been renamed Queensgate Ironmongers.

Ms Fanning told The Huddersfield Daily Examiner: "I always wanted a small shop and my family has a long history of working in the market.

"My dad and grandfather were both joiners and my uncle and younger brother were both engineers, so I was surrounded by hardware all my life."

She said local people had told her they were delighted that the business would now continue, and that she believed they still valued traditional ironmongers.

"Some people don't want to buy bags of nails; they just want one or two small items. I think people like the customer-focused service that you get. They like the personal contact."