A TRADITIONAL toy shop, which has been in Leigh for more than 50 years, has closed.

Fiona Morgan, 35, who has run Leigh Toy Fair, in Broadway West, for almost seven years, said since having twins she has found it hard to devote time to the business.

After much soul-searching, she has decided to sell up.

She said: “You really need to spend time advertising if you want to compete. It is very tough out there for independent businesses.

“Since having my girls, two years ago, I haven’t been able to get in the shop as much as I would like.

“So I tried to sell it as a going concern and the business was on the market for six months. I had a couple of people interested, but the deals fell through for various reasons.

“It was a difficult decision, the business has been here for more than 50 years and I was only the fourth owner.”

Miss Morgan said she had had a lot of well-wishers in the shop when Christmas lights were turned on.

She said: “We have got to know a lot of customers and there were a few tears from one or two.”

Miss Morgan said the only surviving independent toy shop in the area now was Argosy Toys, in London Road, Westcliff.

She is giving the Westcliff shop a giant giraffe called Daisy Long Legs, which had stood proudly in Leigh Toy Fair.

Mike Dolby, 73, a member of Leigh Town Council, who lives in Southsea Avenue, Leigh, was saddened by the news.

He said: “I knew the people who originally owned it as they lived next door to me.

“It is a shame for such a long-standing business to go, especially as it will mean Leigh doesn’t have a pure toy shop anymore.

“Ideally, I’d like to see another toy shop replace it.”

The company specialised in wooden toys, baby toys and gifts, as well as forts and dolls houses and other educational toys.