ONE of the area's oldest and best known book and stationery retailers has announced it is closing its two stores in Northallerton and Darlington.

Dressers, the 154-year-old family-owned business which has shops at High Street, Northallerton, and High Row, Darlington, confirmed yesterday that it was selling to developer Terrace Hill group. Both shops will close by March 31.

The shop's doors were closed until 11am yesterday while directors broke the news to staff.

In a statement issued to the D&S Times, chairman Mr Kem Dore said: "The directors have reluctantly concluded that it is increasingly difficult for an independent retailer of the nature and stature of Dressers to maintain our own and preferred style of high street retailing."

Mr Dore added that the company had been evaluating a number of options to develop the business in recent years, particularly in view of the impending retirement of general manager Miss Elspeth Robinson, who has been with the firm for 40 years.

He said: "She worked alongside Peter Warrand, the previous managing director, from the time he joined the firm until his retirement in 1997. "Theirs was a unique and formidable partnership and whilst they were not actually 'family' in this family business, they lived and breathed Dressers for the major part of their lives.

"Directors and shareholders are enormously grateful to them and indeed to all of our loyal staff."

The news is believed to have come out of the blue for the 66 staff, many of whom are long-serving.

Miss Freda Lofthouse, who retired as head book buyer for Dressers last September after 34 years service, said: "I don't think any of the staff would have had an inkling. I am really, really sad; it will have come as a shock to all the staff there."

Purchasers Terrace Hill said following refurbishment, the stores would be available for occupation by mid-summer.

The company confirmed a number of national multiple retailers had already shown interest but declined to name them.

Mr Robert Cansick, of Terrace Hill, said: "Whilst it is always sad to lose a distinguished and familiar name from any high street, the purchase of the shops by Terrace Hill represents a tremendous opportunity for jobs to be offered by national brands."

Mr Bill Burton, who runs Maxwell's electrical store in Northallerton High Street and is a member of the town's chamber of trade committee was also stunned by the news.

"I am very surprised, very shocked and very disappointed that an independent retailer has gone down the route of a lot of others because all of us independents like to stick together,'' he said