FRIENDS and supporters of Nessie Dear are facing the loss of her wool shop in Beaminster just over a year after her death.

The popular 52 year old died just before Christmas in 2013.

At the time Richard, her husband of 33 years, decided her keep Nessie Yarn’s and Crafts in Lynden Way, going.

But now he’s decided to call it a day as the strain and difficulty of running his own painting and decorating business and trying to keep the shop open has proved too onerous.

He said: “”We are closing because I want to concentrate on my decorating business and I can’t be in two places at the same time. Running two businesses is too stressful, too much work and too demanding, .

“It was a difficult decision to make because we’ve got a lot of really nice loyal customers.

“I kept it going to begin with because both of us put such a lot of hard work and effort into it it seemed a shame to close it all down. I was quite surprised that the ladies still kept coming on in. They are not too happy with me, they obviously want it to stay open.”

The shop will close at the end of April when the lease ends.

He added: “It is the end of an era really. My volunteers have been marvellous and I have to thank them and the customers.

“When Nessie died a lot did disappear though. It was like a free café in here with tea and cake. Nessie made it very much a home from home and her knowledge – there was nothing she didn’t know.”

Nessie opened the shop in May 2010 as a way of passing on her skills and love of the craft – because knitting helped her rebuild her life after a devastating stroke at the age of 44.

She said knitting had saved her and she wanted to pass that gift on to others.