A JEWELLER has celebrated 30 years in business.

Robin Finnegan set up his own business in Darlington after leaving school at 18, dealing in coins and unusual medals before expanding into jewellery.

Finnegan Jewellers became a partnership 19 years ago.

It is now a business run by family and close friends. The team work and socialise together, expanding on the business principle of offering something unique and personal.

"Personal service is important to us," Robin Finnegan explained. "We still have customers who have been with us for all 30 years of business. We try to offer people something new."

Mr Finnegan started off with a small shop in Grange Road, before moving to premises in Tubwell Row.

After that, he moved to Skinnergate, where the business remained until a move last November to the Cornmill Centre.

At one point, Mr Finnegan had three shops, but found that he preferred to concentrate his efforts on one outlet, and a separate workshop.

"People describe the shop as an Aladdin's cave," Mr Finnegan said. "They come in and we've got all manner of interesting things that they weren't looking for in the first place."

Mr Finnegan hopes to be in the business for the next thirty years: "I've done this all my life, and I want to keep on doing so.

THE staff at a repair and key cutting shop in Darlington are celebrating being part of one of the country's best companies.

Timpson was recently voted the sixth best place to work in the country in a national survey.

Manager of the Darlington store Kevin Williams and his staff, who work in Tubwell Row, were delighted with the news.

To mark the occasion, head of the company John Timpson sent a bottle of wine to them to thank them for their hard work.

Thanking the Darlington team, Mr Timpson said: "It's people like Kevin Williams that make this company successful.

"I have complete faith in Kevin's skills and ability to do a great job for our Darlington customers.

"Our business is all about making sure we look after the people who look after our customers and I'm extremely proud that commitment to our staff has been recognised."

CUSTOMERS at a Darlington shop are being told to get on their bikes.

The Iron Horse Cyclery in Clark's Yard is expanding 21 months after it first opened its doors.

As well as selling new cycles and accessories, staff at the shop also service and repair bikes.

Ivan Pratt, owner of the Iron Horse Cyclery said: "We always intended to expand, but due to the demand we found we had to do it sooner rather than later."

The shop is staying open during the expansion, which will allow space on the first floor of the building to be used to display more stock.