A BUTCHER’S shop that has been in the same family for three generations has been acquired by one of its employees.

Andrew Lee and his wife Kirsty have bought G E Ward Family Butchers in York Road, Tadcaster, saving it from potential closure after nearly a century.

The sale follows more than 20 years of working at the business by Mr Lee.

The business has been sold by Malcolm Ward, whose grandfather started the butcher’s shop almost 90 years ago.

Malcolm, now aged 60, and his wife Sandra, are both retiring form the family venture.

They were advised on the sale by Langleys Solicitors of York, while Mr and Mrs Lee were advised by Stephen Baylis of Parisi Solicitors, also based in York.

Mr Ward, who started working in his family’s shop when he was just 15, described the move as “the end of an era” on the business’s Facebook page.

He said: “We are very pleased that Andrew is taking the shop on.

“He knows the business and our customers very well.

“It’s the right time to retire and we are looking forward to having more free time to spend with our family.”

Mr Lee himself was only young when he started at Ward’s when at the age of 13 Mr Ward gave him a Saturday job at the butchers.

Mr Lee said: “I told my mum and dad I was going to get a Saturday job and the butchers was the first place I came to and Malcolm said yes.

“I left for a bit to be a mechanic but I’ve helped out all the time over the last 22 years.

“I didn’t want to see the shop shut.

“Kirsty and I are pleased to keep it going and we’ve had lots of good wishes from people locally and our customers.”

Emma Warner, partner in commercial property at Langleys Solicitors, who worked on the deal, said: “It is great to see Andrew and Kirsty taking the shop on and keeping such a successful and longstanding family business going.

“We wish Malcolm and Sandra a long and happy retirement after all their hard work over the years in the shop.”