CUSTOMERS have said it has been a "very emotional goodbye" to a 25-year-old high street shop.

Dozens of dismayed shoppers paid for their final purchases a Cresta, Church Street, Flint on Saturday before the quarter-century-old store closed it's doors for the final time.

The closure has been deemed "very sad" by residents and dedicated bargain hunters, including Sylvia Anderson, of Flint, who remembers the shop opening over two decades ago.

Mrs Anderson said: "The town will not be the same without it because anything you wanted, you could get from there - it was great for cards. I will be sad to see it go. I think the retail park has killed it off, to be honest.

"My thoughts go to the owner, his father moved here when it first opened and was here for many years."

Natalie Papworth, of Flint, said: "I think it's very sad and I think it as being part of home. It makes me quite upset to think about really because my parents used to do a lot of shopping here. It's a very sad day for Flint High Street.

"There are certain things you can only buy here that you won't be able to get in other shops. It makes me quite emotional to think about it shutting. It's more than a shop, it's an institution."

The closing of Cresta was also a "very sad time" for Cerri Ellett, who worked at the shop many years ago as a Christmas-time relief assistant.

Maureen Stanley, who moved from Ireland to Flint 30 years ago, said the change in the shopping in the High Street has been concerning due to the "take-aways, sun bed shops, and that's about it."

She said: "It will be another vacant shop on the High Street. A lot of the shops are bare. It's sad because Cresta has been here such a long time."

Owner Paul McDermott, who has been in the retail trade since age six selling products on Holywell High Street market, has said the unfortunate closure has been "coming a while."

Mr McDermott said: "Hannah Blythyn AM and David Hanson MP have done all they can for us, but it's not enough. I loved working here and I made some good friends, and the customers are absolutely gutted.

"We've been here over 25 years and my family have seen it grow. Our staff will be missed - one girl has worked here for 25 years and the other 21. I'll miss the buzz, this is what I've been doing since I was six years old, it's all I know.

"Saturday was quite emotional because my dad died two years ago, and the business was started by my dad. But he saw the closure coming."

Mr McDermott said his reasons for closing are due to inflated rent rates, lower footfall in the town centre, and the spike in internet shopping in recent years.

Fears have been allayed over the closure of Cresta in Holywell, after Mr McDermott confirmed to the Leader that another family members owns the Holywell branch separately, and to his knowledge the second store is doing well financially.

The former owner said he will step away from retail now as it's impossible to commit to the trade full-time. Instead, he will support Holywell's local business, Wendy's Ballons, and said he is looking forward to helping the new venture, which opens in July.