THE long-established shop Knights of Sidmouth is due to shut down tomorrow marking the end of an era for the town. The family-run business, which has been trading for over 70 years, is closing due to retirement. One member of staff, who has worked in the

THE long-established shop Knights of Sidmouth is due to shut down tomorrow marking the end of an era for the town.

The family-run business, which has been trading for over 70 years, is closing due to retirement.

One member of staff, who has worked in the shop for more than 28 years, told the Herald: "Obviously it is a sad thing and it will be greatly missed. People have been coming into the shop saying how sad it is and they will miss the shop but things move on I'm afraid and business is business. A lot of staff have a lot of happy memories there."

Keith Knight, joint owner, declined to comment. At one time the store employed over 20 people but over the past year numbers have decreased to around nine and all staff have now been made redundant.

Trust House Securities (THS) are nearing the end of negotiations to buy the Fore Street premises from the family, which includes the Vanity Fayre site.

East Devon District Council has approved plans submitted by the company to convert the upper floors into five flats and make alterations to the ground floor including new shop fronts.

Barry Whymark, chartered accountant and agent for THS, said: "My clients are in the process of completing their purchase of the building."

He added that the work to the building could take months to complete.

As previously reported, active lifestyle retailer Fat Face has made an application for the Knights site and several more businesses are interested in the Vanity Fayre building.