Richard Cook in Falmouth is shutting down in February after 115 years of trading on Killigrew Street.

Owner Richard Nunn says business is still booming, but at the age of 68 he is ready to retire and looks forward to spending his days sailing, hiking and going trout fishing in Scotland.

He said: "You can't go on forever, at some point you have got to stop. It's a sad occasion, I do feel pangs of sadness.

"We have had some fantastic customers and some lovely letters. I'd like to thank customers for their loyalty and custom over many years, generations in some families, and say how much I have enjoyed looking after them and enjoyed their company."

When asked about things that have hindered the business, Richard mentioned "the fact that Falmouth has never been able to sort its parking out properly.

"There's an aggressive policing of parking, it makes the town a hostile environment for anyone coming in with a car. If Falmouth ever managed to solve the parking problem it would be a much different town to what it is today."

But keen to get the point across that business was still thriving, Richard said: "We have had very good footfall, I can't say that our business is struggling."

The shop was opened by Richard's great-great-grandfather in 1903 and was passed down through the family before he took over more than 45 years ago.

Now though, he says that there is "no line of succession in the business".

A customer told a story about Richard's father who fitted out a bed and breakfast for him, and when it came to paying the bill, "he said 'we'll shake hands and you can pay me when you get the money'".

Richard said: "A lot of business used to be done like that, just on a promise. You know who you're dealing with and there's always a lot of trust."

Even though things have changed to some degree in recent years, Richard said: "We're still very much service orientated, we do everything short of making the bed for them."

A post on a local Facebook group announcing the closure solicited an outpouring of sentiment from people in Falmouth, and when the Packet went to press nearly 100 people had left comments sharing their memories of the shop.