Bakery set to close after 70 years

Harry's Bakery of Bedworth will close its doors for the last time on 23 December

The owners of a bakery have said an emotional thank you to their customers as they prepare to close after 70 years.

Harry’s Bakery of Bedworth, Warwickshire, will switch off the ovens for the final time at 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

The family-run business announced its closure in November and confirmed the owners were retiring.

Speaking to BBC Radio CWR, owners and brothers Martin and Andrew Twigger said they had been overwhelmed by the response from the community.

Martin Twigger, 68, said: “We’ve had a huge response….it’s been unreal and frightening but we’re closing anyway.

“We’ve been doing it since we were kids and it’s just grown to what it is today.”

But referring to a £1,100-per-month increase in the business’s electricity bill, he said the venture was “not really worth doing anymore”.

'Stupid o'clock'

Reminiscing on his work, he said the pair would always try to make the best of everything they did.

“We don’t like to make anything that’s not the best it could be made”, he explained.

Meanwhile, Andrew Twigger described how they would often be out of bed between midnight and 01:00 to start their working days.

“You get up at stupid o’clock, cope with your aches and pains, start work and finish when the job’s done,” he said.

He urged people to support their local businesses, saying they would not be around forever.

His brother thanked everyone who had supported the business over the years, adding: “We hope they appreciate what we’ve put in to keep them fed.”