AN Earby business is set to close this month after 125 years of trading.

Henry Speak and Sons, on Victoria Road, was established in 1889 and three generations of the Speak family have provided ironmongery supplies and fancy goods along with decorating and DIY advice to customers in the West Craven area.

Henry Speak opened the shop in the latter part of the 19th century and for the past 50 years his grandson, 80-year-old Donald Speak, and his wife Ann, 76, have run the family business before making a decision to retire.

"It was originally a painters and decorators and at one time the business employed 12 men," said Donald. "I kept decorating until I was 70, but since then we've just sold hardware, fancy goods and given DIY advice."

"We're going to miss meeting people," said Ann. "We know so many people in Earby."

When the firm started, Henry ran the business with his two sons, Rennie and Eddie, along with their sister, Jenny.

In 1964, Rennie’s son, Donald, and his wife, Ann, took over and expanded the Victoria Road premises into the former Co-op store.

Donald, who started out as an apprentice decorator in 1949, said he was going to miss the many customers, who have been offering their good wishes and taking advantage of the half-price offer on all remaining stock.

Ever since the Speaks announced the shop's closure - it will shut at Christmas - the couple have abandoned their Sunday run to the warehouse to stock up on goods.

"We're going to be a bit lost on a Sunday," said Ann. "We've never had a Sunday off because we've always been at the warehouse getting stock."

However, Donald has always been busy on Saturdays, as the lifelong Burnley FC fan can be seen cheering on the club at Turf Moor, where he has worked as a ticket agent for the past 25 years.

"I've been a follower of Burnley for 71 years," said Donald. "I went to my first match in 1943 and have been going since then."

Ann admitted that she would have plenty to do in retirement and is planning to catch up on all the things she has not had the time to do.

The Speaks want to thank all their customers for supporting them over the past 50 years.