YORK'S most controversial shop is closing down.

Blue Moon Trading in Goodramgate - which has been repeatedly slated for its sale of items such as crossbows and Nazi memorabilia - is to shut for 'retirement', according to a sign in the window.

York Central MP Rachael Maskell called in May for the Government to crack down on the sale of lethal crossbow weapons after The Press explored how easy it is to get hold of the potentially deadly weapons both online and at shops such as Blue Moon.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/16209180.york-mp-rachael-maskell-calls-for-crackdown-on-crossbows/

Owner Stuart Sykes said then he could not see the attraction in the scores of crossbows he sold each year.

He said while sales of larger crossbows were "absolutely minimal", he sold scores of pistol-sized crossbows.

"The people who buy them are usually the people who boast they have land, especially farmers' sons and daughters, they love them, but the pistol crossbows are useless unless you have somewhere to use it."

Mr Sykes said he fully supported the restriction which meant crossbows of any size could not be sold to anyone under 18, and while some items were available by mail order - which meant fewer checks - crossbows were rarely among his online sales.

However, he said on a number of occasions "sometimes mothers and fathers come in with younger people and it's legal to buy them with them, as long as they're supervised".

He said: "I've refused to sell them before, just simply checking dates of birth is enough. It's not difficult.

"I really don't know what the attraction is. I haven't wondered, they don't interest me. It's a good question, I really don't know. Unless there's something in the public eye. Most things in here would be nasty to have pointed at you, but the big ones are particularly nasty."

The shop hit the headlines in 2012 when the then leader of City of York Council, James Alexander, hit out at a “sick” slogan on a T-shirt on sale there.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9841797.Council_chief_takes_to_Twitter_to_slam_store_for_selling____fun____Hitler_T-shirts/

The Labour councillor voiced his outrage on a social networking site over the clothing, made to resemble T-shirts sold by rock bands when on world tours, which carried the slogan: “Adolf Hitler’s tour of Europe.'

Underneath it said destinations England and Russia had been “cancelled”, in reference to Hitler’s failed attempts to conquer both countries during the Second World War.

In 2007, Mr Sykes hit out after City of York Council ordered him to remove metal grilles from his business's front window.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1681670.Gun_shop_at_war_with_York_council_over_security_grilles/

He said he had put the grilles up as a security measure to prevent break-ins, and he was "baffled" by the suthority's actions, when grilles had gone up in other shops on the street without any action being taken.

In 2009, a Second World War hand grenade with the pin still in it brought Goodramgate to a standstill after it was taken into Blue Moon Trading by a middle-aged woman who had been clearing out her late father’s home.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/4567828.Woman_walks_into_Blue_Moon_Trading_gun_shop__Goodramgate___with_live_Second_World_War_hand_grenade/

She carried it into the town centre in her handbag and told shop owner Stuart Sykes: “it’s a real one”.

Police called in an Army bomb squad from Catterick and set up a 20-metre cordon around the shop and evacuated neighbouring businesses.

The squad later confirmed the grenade was a dud.

In 2003, Blue Moon was criticised by the advertising watchdog after selling air rifles through the post.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7898434.York_gun_firm_is_rapped_over_ad/

It advertised a rifle and "500 ammo free" in an East Yorkshire newspaper for £49.95, plus £7.50 postage and packing.

The advert showed a picture of an air rifle with the claims "ultimate pest controller" and "max legal limit". It said the offer was for "over-18s only".

Mr Sykes said he "totally disagreed" with the ASA's verdict that the advert was "irresponsible' and said the advert had now been withdrawn.

In 2006, The Press reported that an imitation handgun, which police admitted they'd struggle to tell apart from a genuine firearm, was bought from Blue Moon by sisters aged only 10 and 12.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/828281.Imitation_handgun_sold_to_sisters_aged_10_and_12/

A man at the shop said he was doing nothing illegal, adding: "You can buy them on the market and other shops sell them to children."

In 2008, a man who bought a telescopic baton at Blue Moon and then showed it off to his friends in a city centre bar was jailed for 90 days after admitting possessing an offensive weapon in public.

Last month, Blue Moon and neighbouring premises were evacuated and the street was cordoned off following the discovery of a suspicious device.

The device was reported to be an old Army 'trip flare' - used by military forces to set up secure perimeters using tripwires and a flare.