ONE of York's oldest shops is about to close after almost 120 years in the city.

Whitby Oliver Furniture, which has origins in York dating back to 1897, is closing its store in Fulford at the end of the month.

The move is being made by business owner Nissar Hussain due to personal reasons, and will spell the loss of four jobs.

The North Yorkshire businessman stepped in to save Whitby Oliver Furniture back in 2007 when the Oliver family decided to close the venture, citing tough competition as the reason.

After being closed for five months Mr Hussain stepping in and agreed to take on the lease of the two-storey building in Hospital Fields Road following negotiations with Britannia Oliver, the removals division of the business.

Mr Hussain kept the Whitby Oliver name, and following a six-figure revamp kept the business trading for another seven years.

Store manager Mark Thrower said: "There's a real feeling of disappointment among the team and customers, many of which have been very loyal over many years.

"It's sad that its going and the Whitby Oliver name will be no more.

"I have had a thoroughly enjoyable time working here. I have met a lot of great people and have enjoyed serving the local community.

"It's a real shame that the shop is going after being here in York for such a long time."

The business was started in 1897 by Whitby Charles Oliver, who had been an apprentice to John Taylor, cabinet maker and upholsterer of Coney Street.

Until the 1970s it was based in Micklegate, York, from where over the years it traded as a furniture store, a French polishers, cabinet maker and funeral director's.

The firm also traded from Dalton Terrace, and had warehouses in Priory Street and Victoria Bar, which are now apartments.

The closure of Whitby Oliver Furniture comes a year after another long-standing independent furniture retailer closed in York.

G A White closed its Walmgate showroom in March last year after 54 years trading as brothers David and Michael White brought to an end the business their parents started in 1957.