A MARKET trader is closing his stall after more than 30 years of serving Barrow customers.

Mushtaq Ahmad, who owns Sobia Fashion in Barrow Market, is bidding farewell to his clothing stall which he has run for 32 years.

The 69-year-old, who lives in Manchester, is retiring to focus on his grandchildren and health.

He described his time in the market as ‘full of lovely memories’.

“The customers are like my family here,” he said.

“I’ve served grandmothers, mothers, and children who have grown up and their own children come into the store now.

“A lot of my customers have been coming for the past 25 years - it’s like a big family to me.”

Mr Ahmad said he had an emotional response from other stall-holders and customers when he told them about his departure.

“Some people have had tears in their eyes and been really emotional,” he said.

“It’ll be a really sad day when I pack up.”

Linda Durkin has been a customer at Sobia Fashion since it first set up three decades ago.

Ms Durkin said the store is ‘part of the furniture’ and will ‘miss it hugely’.

“It’s not like big stores where there isn’t a personal touch or people helping you,” she said.

“Mushtaq makes sure he always goes above and beyond to help find what you want.

“He does his best to get an item of clothing for me even when it’s not in stock.

“I’m going to miss him very much when he goes.”

Mr Ahmad said without the help of his ‘dedicated’ store assistant, Jane Pidduck, he would have closed long ago.

“Jane helps me out so much in the store,” he said.

“If she wasn’t here I would have closed a long time ago

“She’s made it successful, she’s a very hard worker.”

Sobia Fashion is currently having a closing down sale before it officially closes its doors on July 31.

Mr Ahmad said: “I’ll miss everything about the place: the customers, the market, my friends.

“It will be a sad day when I finally say goodbye.”