Mildenhall kitchen and bathroom shop closes after 109 years

The business was founded in 1912 and includes a builders' merchant

A kitchen and bathroom shop with a builders' merchant founded in 1912 is to close as a result of Covid lockdowns and Brexit supply issues.

Owner Ken Thompson of Bussens & Parkin in Mildenhall in Suffolk, said he had no choice but to put the business into involuntary insolvency.

"Closure during the pandemic hit us hard... and when we couldn't get the products, trade stopped," he said.

He paid tribute to his 14 "excellent staff" who were "one big family".

Mr Thompson said: "It's been awful, I love the business, I love the customers and we have excellent staff, but I had to draw a line somewhere and we couldn't keep on trading while insolvent.

"Seven months of closures due to the coronavirus pandemic hurt us badly, no income, but still having to play rates and staff," he said.

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Once the lockdowns ended, trade "started off steady" but then Brexit supply issues hit the builders' merchant as well as access to white goods, stopping business.

Debts started to accrue, he said.

Mr Thompson has owned the King Street business since 2000, with a short break from 2015 to 2016.

The company was initially on the High Street until it burned down in 1968.

Mr Thompson, who now plans to retire, added: "We're not closing through choice and it's the staff I feel sorry for."