A BOOKSHOP in Helmsley has closed for the final time after 30 years.

Helmsley Antiquarian and Secondhand Books was opened by Val Moorby and her husband Myles in 1985 as a project and a hobby after Myles took early retirement from his job as an architect.

The pair decided that Helmsley was the ideal place for the shop and bought the old fire station building, transforming it into what was to become a much-loved bookshop.

Val said: “Myles was always passionate about books and liked reading as a hobby. We thought it would be something fun to do and we thought that even if the bookshop doesn’t take off we could rent the building out.”

Fast forward 30 years and the bookshop has been built up in to an extremely successful business.

However, Myles died two and a half years ago and Val has decided that now is the right time to shut up shop and enjoy her retirement.

She said: “I would like to thank all of our customers over the past 30 years, some of who have been regular and have been coming to us since we first opened, for their continued loyalty and support.

“It has been great fun and both my husband and I got a great deal of enjoyment out if it, particularly Myles who loved to meet people and customers became our friends. It has certainly been a business with a twist.”

Val said that she now hopes to spend time travelling, visiting family and friends and will hopefully get time to read some books instead of selling them.