IT was the end of an era for a village store as the shopkeeper hung up his apron after 50 years.

Barry Milburn had spent most of his adult life behind the counter of his family-run store that has been supplying goods to the residents of Hutton Rudby, in North Yorkshire, for more than a century.

J Milburn and Sons has been the cornerstone of community life since 1901.

One customer, who is in her nineties, has been served by five generations of the Milburn family and still regularly shops there.

Mr Milburn, 67, who ran the store with his wife, Kate, said: "I was looking forward to finishing - I had already gone into wind-down mode - but I will certainly miss the shop.

"There are some people who having been coming in for years and there have certainly been some characters who have shopped here over the years.

"Since the shop opened, it has continually adapted to suit the changing tastes and needs of the customers."

In 1956, the family joined the Spar group and turned it into a self-service store, which proved controversial at the time.

Mr Milburn said: We have had massive support from the village residents, Hambleton District Council and Spar over the years and we would like to take this opportunity to say thanks for their help and custom."