A LOCAL independent Ross-on-Wye trader is shutting up shop after 28-and-a-half years.

A week ago, Peter Manning, who runs the Cookshop in the town’s High Street announced that the shop was closing.

Following the announcement, which was posted with bold lettering in the window, and subsequently shared on social media, Mr Manning said he has been inundated with good will messages and that people were sad to see that he was closing as the shop had become part of the town’s fixtures.

The Cookshop, a long-established culinary and equipment supplier catering for all cooking, baking and kitchen needs.

Mr Manning said: “I established the Cookshop at this location from the very start because it has a good position in the town. For the past 16-years I have been assisted by Sue Cutler but I think after all this time, we are allowed to go.

“Since announcing that all stock must go, we’ve already sold 70 per cent of it.

“There is no one particular reason why I have decide to sell up, but I feel that now is as good a time as any to go. “I am close to retirement, but I am not going down that route just yet. I have given almost three decades to serving the people of Ross and its constant stream of visitors.

“A lot of people have come into the store and said that it was a shame it was closing but were appreciative of the years of service me and my team have given the town.

“It’s nice to be appreciated in this way and I would like to personally thank all of our customers, past and present for their support of an independent trader.

“We’ve loved people coming in and saying how they have enjoyed shopping here over the years.”

Ms Cutler said it had been a joy working at the store and added: “I took pride in helping our customers who keep returning year after year, many from overseas. The most popular line were the textiles made by Ulster Weavers that include aprons, tea towels and oven gloves.”

In November 2009, trained market researchers secretly visited Ross in a mystery shopping exercise designed to test the town’s overall shopping experience - and top of the shops in town was The Cookshop, with a score of 99 per cent.