A DEESIDE tackle shop has reeled in new owners as they hope to keep customers hooked by remaining the shop they know and love.

Colin Hett has owned the building since 1989 but has since decided to retire, leaving Geoff Parker and Josh Cassidy as the new owners.

Geoff said the business has a 'great reputation' in the community and they hope to continue on Colin's hard work.

He told the Leader: "We are privileged to have been able to agree to take it over from Colin. Colin has been operating the business from Shotton since the 1970s and eventually settling in that building in 1989 after converting it from a bank.

"A lot of small retailers are going out of business at the moment, and many retiring owners are also deciding to just close the doors instead of finding a buyer.

"However, we are pleased to announce this good news and see opportunity to develop the business. The business has never had a website or sold products online which we see as an easy win for us both having digital marketing backgrounds.

"We also believe that there are areas of stock that can be increased which customers are keen to see in the shop such as products across carp, coarse and sea fishing ranges.

Customers can now find us at www.deesidetackle.co.uk and can make orders online at www.karpz.co.uk, the full product range is currently all being uploaded to the website.

"Josh Cassidy is a keen angler with over 20 years fishing experience and has always been his dream to own and run his own shop. Josh will working from the shop and taking over from Colin.

"We want to assure all customers that it is very much business as normal with the phone number staying the same, name of the business staying the same and opening hours staying the same.

"We look forward to meeting all the customers and engaging with them about the business and how we can develop the business to best help them with their angling.

"We also wish Colin the very best for his retirement after committing so much of his time to serving in the local community."