A MUCH-loved record store at the heart of a town has come to the end of a 'long and winding road' after more than four decades.

Steph and Piers Garner, who run Bridport Music, say they've put their 'heart and soul' into running the business but are ready to move on to the next phase of their lives.

The couple said: "We have come to the end of the long and winding road called Bridport Music. We have been trying to sell the business for a couple of years. We always said 'don’t worry, we won’t disappear until we find a buyer.' As it turns out, we were wrong. After two years of trying, we have failed to interest anyone with the desire and the means to take over the reins of Bridport Music. We’ve been close on a couple of occasions but not close enough, and we have decided that now is the time for us to move on to the next phase of our lives.

"We’ve put our heart and souls in to the shop but as we’re now in our 40th year here, we have no more to give."

'Bridport Record Centre' opened in 1974 at 96 South Street before moving to its current location at 33a South Street in 1979.

It will close some time in October - but it is currently on the market and it is possible a buyer may come forward before then.

Mrs Garner says the couple have had a 'good run', enjoying the vinyl revival and meeting the likes of Robert Plant, PJ Harvey and Bobby Gillespie and that they will miss their customers, old and new.

But they are looking forward trying something new after working six days-a-week at the record store.

"We’ve had a great time, made some fantastic friends and brought up three amazing children here," they added.