A Falmouth WWII veteran who visited Marks and Spencer on opening day in 1933 paid a final visit today before the shop shut its doors for the last time.

Bernard Hellings was 13-years-old when he bought an alarm clock on the day M&S opened to wake him up for school.

Now 98, Bernard remembers the excitement of the beloved shop opening in the town.

He said: "It was quite a big attraction, a big store like this coming to Falmouth.

"Nothing like that had ever happened before, it was mostly smaller shops and family shops but a big store like this was quite a big attraction."

Bernard's granddaughter Bridie Toft brought him to the shop to enjoy a final cup of tea and a biscuit in the cafe.

He went on to say: "I'm sorry to see it go but in business there's no sentiment. I think it will be sadly missed.

"There were a lot of rumours for a long time and now it's happened."

Speaking about what he would like to see replacing the much-loved shop, Bernard said: "There's talk of a farmer's market. Whether it will ever happen I don't know, it all boils down to money."

The Packet also spoke to a former employee, Andrea Hancock, who told us what she thought of the closure.

She said: "It's sad, very sad. It's sad for the town, really sad for the town, the community and sad for the team members. Some of them have been here years; 30, 40 years, it's been their life, so it's really sad."

Falmouth Packet:

Speaking about what she would like to see replacing Marks and Spencer, Andrea said: "Quality shops, something quality. But the building needs a lot of money spent on it so somebody will have to invest a lot."

The building is still for sale as of February 2 2019, with agents asking for offers in excess of £2,500,000 in August 2018.