City's oldest record shop to get blue plaque

The record shop has been in the same family for four generations

One of the UK's oldest record shops that counted Beatles legend John Lennon and celebrated football manager Bill Shankly among its customers has been honoured with a blue plaque.

The Musical Box in Liverpool is owned by Tony and Paula Quinn, who said the family were "deeply honoured" with the permanent tribute.

Mrs Quinn said the shop had been in the family for four generations and was recently given a facelift led by her son Craig.

The idea for the plaque was developed in a collaboration between Liverpool City Council's heritage team and the UNESCO City of Music team.

It will be unveiled by Antiques Roadshow expert Wayne Colqhoun, who suggested the shop owners convert an upstairs floor of the Tuebrook store into a museum.

The shop was popular with Beatles legend John Lennon

Ms Quinn added the unveiling will be a special moment for her, Tony, Craig and for Tony's mother Diane, now in her 80s, who took over the family business from her mother Dorothy.

Former Beatles drummer Pete Best has said he and Lennon were frequent visitors before The Beatles were famous.

Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly is also known to have dropped by in 1972 to buy the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards number one hit Amazing Grace.

The family welcomed former customer Elvis Costello to the store two years ago

Kevin McManus, of UNESCO City of Music, said: "Last time I was in the Musical Box I bought a heart-shaped red vinyl limited edition of Pete Wylie's Heart As Big As Liverpool.

"I bought it even though I had the track on about five other versions of it on different CDs but I wanted it on vinyl."

He added: "Many years ago I wrote a book about country music in Liverpool and many of the musicians I spoke to mentioned the Musical Box and I began to learn more about its long history.

"It is another small element of what makes Liverpool a special music city."