A SON who took over a family business after his father passed away is sad to see the shop front close, although he is pleased to be staying in Witham.

Paul Gardener, the son of Martin who founded the office shop KEMPCo in 1981, has had to close the shop due to financial reasons.

The business started in at the Old Farmhouse in Newland Street, Witham, before moving to the Newlands Shopping Centre.

Mr Gardener, 41, took over the business when his dad passed away 18 months ago.

He said: “We have been looking at the figures for the past five years or so and recently competition has become greater so we were making a loss.

“It’s sad and we don’t like to go. My dad liked the banter of the customers and wanted to keep a shop front in the town, he was proud to be a business man.

“It was a financial decision, we have made some great friends being here for so long, we still have customers now who we had coming in 30 years ago.”

The business will now move to their commercial warehouse in Perry Way, which they have owned for 25 years. Retail customers can still visit the warehouse.

Mr Gardener, 41, said: “I started in the shop as a school boy when I was 14 and spent the school holidays working with my dad.

“He set up the business to look after his family and I’m doing the right thing to look after mine.

“It’s not in the family policy to make redundancies, so the staff are coming with us to the warehouse.”

Tina Townsend, chair of the Witham Chamber of Commerce, said she is pleased the business will be staying in the town.

She said: “It’s a shame they will not have a shop front. I have been a customer of theirs my whole working life.

“It’s going to be sad as it’s a family run business and there aren’t many left, but it’s great they are still in Witham and they will still receive the support of the business community.”