A long-standing Tilehurst hardware store that as dedicated 20 years to serving the community has announced its closure.

C&G Hardware, located on School Road, was opened by renowned Tilehurst business owners Corinne and Geffrey Folley in April 2004.

After announcing the closure this week, the business owners and community have expressed huge sadness as the shop prepares to leave Tilehurst.

C&G Hardware co-owner Geffrey said: “We’ve been part of the village for the last 20 years and it will be very sad to say goodbye to all our customers.

“We made the decision to close because we’re coming to the end of our lease and we just aren’t ready to renew it for another 10 years, but it’s going to be sad to say goodbye.

“We took it over when the shop became available but over the last 18 months the trade has been going down, mostly because of online sales and people shopping in bigger brands like Screwfix and Wicks.”

The owner of one of Tilehurst's only hardware store said that they pride themselves on always being able to find what a customer is looking for or getting it to them within days.

Their Christmas Eve celebrations over the past few years have encouraged customers and residents to come out for some free chestnuts, mulled wine, and mince pies outside the shop.

Geffrey and Corrine said they will have another three months to say goodbye to the customers and friends they have made over the last 20 years - with the lease running out in February.

With the loss of so many independent shops across Reading, the business owner said that there is nothing drawing people to the high street anymore.

He added: “Higher rents and low footfall are forcing many family businesses that have been open for 100 years to close. There used to be a family butchers that sold everything including fruit and veg and it disappeared overnight in Tilehurst.

“People have really appreciated us over the years and we will miss all our customers coming in.”

Corinne and Geffrey started off their careers in Tilehurst by running a newsagent out of their home distributing newspapers to over 2,500 people throughout the villages on the outskirts of Reading.

As the pair opened C&G Hardware, the paper shop on School Road was closed. They will now move on to concentrate on the ‘Bus and Train Shed’ - a model store in Tilehurst run by the couple.