Couple save shop from closure on 100th anniversary

Overt Locke was established in 1925

A shop that opened more than 100 years ago has been saved from closure.

The Overt Locke store in Somerton had been put on the market by its previous owners, describing conditions as "challenging".

The hardware shop was taken over by a husband and wife team, who also run a similar business in Yeovil.

New owner Louise Gillard said she was driven to save the shop after they "fell in love" with Somerton, and wanting to prevent it from closing on its centenary.

Louise and Rob on the day they got the keys to the store

Mrs Gillard said: "One of our employees who used to work at Overt Locke showed us the sad notice it was going to be closing.

"It's quite emotional as this year happened to be the 100th year of being a business in quite a small community environment, and we didn't want to let it close," Mrs Gillard added.

She said since taking the store on, it had been a "breath of fresh air" and praised the staff for being "amazing and really on board".

"I'd love to pass it on to our children, and their children's children," she added.