A FAMILY-RUN tailor's shop in York is to close after 65 years in business.

Richard Seymour is hanging up his tape measure and will put up the closed sign for the final time at C E Seymour of Bootham in August.

He said the business was set up by his father, First World War veteran Charles Edward Seymour, in Church Street in 1950, and moved to its current home in Bootham in 1990.

He took over the business in 1969 after learning the ropes from his father and has run it ever since.

He said it had thrived through several recessions by priding itself on traditional values and excellent customer service.

“Our customers are spread all over the world, from New Zealand to Canada," he said.

"Many people have come to York on holiday, visited the shop, and then stayed as customers for years, sometimes decades. Many customers over the years have added York into their holiday itinerary just to visit the shop.”

But he felt that despite its popularity with foreign visitors, it was the residents of York and North Yorkshire who had proved to be the mainstay of the company.

“It has been a real pleasure to serve the people of North Yorkshire for all these years. As a business we have never really moved with the times. Instead we believe that if we look after our customers they will look after us, and I think it is this that has kept people coming back to us year after year.”

He said he would be 70 next February and had thought the time was right to close the business and enjoy his retirement.

"I’m looking forward to taking up some new hobbies and spending more time with my wife, children and grandchildren," he added.