THOMAS the Baker in Skipton closed on Saturday with the family-owned business blaming difficulties in finding staff the reason for the closure of the High Street shop.

Simon Thomas, general manager at the Helmsley-based business, said it was with great sadness that the decision was made to close the shop, which opened at the corner of High Street and Otley Street, 10 years ago and was one of 29 Thomas the Bakers across Yorkshire and the North East.

He said: “Over the past 10 years, the shop has remained very popular in the community, largely thanks to our excellent team, and has traded well. Despite the shop’s attractive appeal and efforts to recruit new staff members for the past two years, we have faced challenges finding adequate shop cover. We are unfortunately now in a position where it is impossible to cover the shop and sadly cannot remain open.

“I would personally, on behalf of the Thomas family and the wider Thomas the Baker team, like to express my sincere thanks to the entire team at Skipton for their hard work, commitment and effort. They have persevered through difficult times, and the ongoing success of the shop even in spite of staffing difficulties is a real credit to each and every of them.”