ONE of Northallerton's oldest shops has closed its doors for the last time.

J Cleminson, which opened in the town in 1884, has sold all manner of hardware goods for the past 120 years.

But its owner says the shop cannot compete with others, such as Woolworths and Boyes, and it closed for good on Saturday.

The closure will also see the retirement of owner Brian Holmes, 65, who started working full-time in J Cleminson in 1953. Before that he was an errand boy.

Mr Holmes said: "There are a lot of reasons why we are closing, but we have found that the trade has been affected by all the recent supermarkets and B&Q.

"We get a lot of opposition from Boyes, Woolworths opened a new hardware and household section in the summer, and Sam Turner's sell pots and pans now.

"We seem as though we are fourth or fifth choice. We could have carried on with less staff but it would have been a bit difficult."

John Cleminson set up the business in 1884 and the shop moved to its current premises at 214 High Street in 1911.

At one time there were four hardware shops in Northallerton town centre, but over the years they closed, until only J Cleminson remained.

The closure of the store is the latest in a re-organisation of Northallerton High Street. Betty's cafe is moving next door but one to the former HSBC building, and the owners of that building are taking over the current cafe premises.

A clothes retailer is being lined up to take over the building that Betty's occupies at present, but a company has not yet been announced.