THE shop made famous in ITV's Heartbeat has been saved from closure after being rescued by a fan of the series for nearly half a million pounds.

Aidensfield Stores in Goathland, North Yorks, is regarded as Britain's most photographed village store and - unlike Dev’s in Corrie – depends on real-life customers.

So there were fears it would close its doors for good after owner Phil Hopkinson decided in May to wind down his businesses and put the property on the market for £495,000 after 25 years.

Now it has been purchased by local trader Andy Fiddler, who feared unless he stepped in the Yorkshire icon would be flattened for new houses or converted into a trendy bistro.

Heartbeat fans reacted with relief today, including David Lonsdale, who played Dave in the series said to be grateful its future “is in safe hands”.

With the deal comes the flat above, which also featured extensively in Heartbeat, and a part share in the vintage but working Ford Anglia police car parked outside.

Andy, 45, who lives in Goathland and is an avid fan of Heartbeat, vowed that the shop would continue as a family business.

Wife Gail, also 45, will be taking turns around the counter, as will sons Liam, 21, and Adam, 19.

The family also aim to build up the business by offering the flat above as a holiday let for the first time and offering it on a stop in a VIP trail being set up by Tricia Penrose, who played Gale in the hit show.

Although the flat was often used as a Heartbeat set, it has not actually been lived in for more than 20 years.

The store changed its name to fit in with TV cop Nick Berry’s fictional beat of Aidensfield and featured in hundreds of episodes of the sixties-set drama.

Mr Fiddler, who already runs a number of local businesses, including a hotel in Robin Hood’s Bay, said today/yesterday: “When it was put up for sale it was only the second time it has been on the market in 65 years.

“I did not want someone from down south coming and buying it and turning it into a bistro.

“The other worry was it could quite easily have been flattened for house building and be gone forever. That would have been the worst thing for the shop and the area because there is still an army of fans out there.

“Open all Hours has come back so who is to say one day ITV won’s bring back Heartbeat when they come to their senses.

“At its height, it was attracting 15m viewers and when someone in an ivory tower in London decided it should come to an end it was still getting more viewers than the national news.

“The difference between this shop and the one in Coronation Street is this is a real shop - not a set - and it has a fantastic collection of memorabilia from the series.”

The opportunity to buy had come along at just the right time. He added: “David Lonsdale has already emailed me to say he is delighted the shop is in safe hands.

“He and some of his co actors from heartbeat are touring theatres around the country next year, telling the Heartbeat story, and all the theatres are booked up around the country.

“Tricia Penrose has started a VIP travel agency and she is doing a Heartbeat tour next year.

“So although I am a Heartbeat fan it was just as much a business decision.”