Bury St Edmunds jewellers Thurlow Champness & Son to shut on Saturday with further reduction on remaining stock

A Bury St Edmunds jewellers which has been a lynchpin of the town centre for hundreds of years will welcome customers for the final time on Saturday.

Thurlow Champness & Son Jewellers, in Abbeygate Street, announced last month it would be closing due to the retirement of Trevor Salt, managing director and majority shareholder.

The jewellers dates back 277 years and is believed to be the oldest continuing retail business in the town.

A closing down sale saw all jewellery reduced by 50 per cent attracting legions of new and returning customers.

Mr Salt said the response had been 'phenomenal' and they had sold 95 per cent of their stock bringing in a seven-figure sum.

This week, a further 10 per cent discount has been added to remaining stock.

Mr Salt added: "It's still very mixed feelings. It's the end of an era but I'm looking forward to retiring as well.

"We've seen a lot of old customers and a number of new faces. We've had some very nice comments."

There have been a number of offers for the premises but nothing has yet been finalised and they hope to make an announcement in the coming weeks.