"WE came close, but it's such a shame."

The last remaining bike shop around Romsey is to close its doors after failing to find a new owner in the past six weeks.

As reported, owners of The Bike Centre in North Baddesley had appealed for a new pair of hands to take over as they entered retirement, and didn't want the legacy they had built to end.

Chris Bailey and Tony Edwards established the business in 2012 at Abbey Park Industrial Estate, before moving to their present premises in Botley Road a year later.

Tony said the shop was profitable, but his wife Jane said that the time had come for the owners to step down as they enter retirement.

Despite issuing a plea for new owners, and coming close to securing one, a variety of reasons eventually stood in the way, and the store will close this week, with owners trying to "keep it open as long as possible".

Jane said: "We came close, but it's such a shame. We didn't want to lose it, but eventually our time came. Our customer base has been incredible, so understanding and wonderful.

"We tried hard, and we came close, but for various reasons, it didn't work out."

The lease on the shop runs out on August 21, and the landlord had also said that they wanted somebody else to take it on.

Jane said: "We will now start our big closing down sale, so there will be lots of bargains to be had.

"It's very sad, we're very upset, particularly as it's the last shop like this around Romsey. We will also open on Sunday (August 12) to try and see more people through the doors.

"I think we will be missed, no more helping people on their way to work, or home from school with our emergency services."