A SHOP in Skipton which has proved a sanctuary for book-lovers since 1979 is set to shut its doors at the end of the month.

The Box of Delights, on Otley Street, has been run by Skipton born-and-bred Sheila Coe for almost four decades.

For the last few years, Sheila has opened the store only on Saturdays.

And now she feels the time is right to shut up shop permanently - The Box of Delights will close finally on January 27.

Sheila, who also lives 'above the shop', said: "After leaving school I trained as a librarian, so I have been around books and loved books all my working life.

"I fell and broke my neck a few months ago, and I had to close during September and October. I am still recovering, so I started to take stock and decided the time was right to move on.

"It's been a long time and I shall miss my customers, many of whom I have got to know over the years.

"In some ways it's the end of an era, but I am looking forward to it. I intend to keep very busy, especially with local history and genealogy research, which I am very interested in.

"I will also find time to get to some of the many books I stashed away to read 'when I have more time!'"

Sheila, a former pupil of |Skipton Girls' High School, started The Box of Delights - it is named after a 1930s children's novel by John Masefield and Sheila was granted permission to use the title by the writer's estate - with her late husband Peter, a chartered accountant.

After their marriage they lived in Heaton, Bradford, and had two children, Matthew and Sophie, while Sheila worked as a librarian.

By 1979 Sheila and Peter decided the time was right to move to Skipton and open a shop.

Sheila said: "The main focus was always books but we also wanted to sell furniture and any other curiosities we could find.

"Basically, anything that I found interesting or quirky myself, I thought other people would do so too." She has also made and sold her own collages down the years.

The Box of Delights quickly attracted attention from specialist collectors all over Britain and eventually overseas, especially after Sheila started producing the shop's own catalogues, which were initially handwritten. Regular clients came from as far away as Japan.

Now is not the first time that Sheila has decided to close The Box of Delights.

She did so in 1996, when suffering from arthritis, and the Craven Herald published a story about the closure.

But Sheila found she could not tear herself away and after a while she re-opened.

"This time it's definitely happening," Sheila laughed. "I have enjoyed my 38 years as a book-seller in Skipton, and I thank all my customers over that period. I shall miss them, but now it really is the right time!"