THE vino has been flowing as Worcester's Italian community bade a fond farewell to a delicatessen which has been part of the city since the 1960s.

Ceci's store was opened in Wyld's Lane by Francesco Ceci and his wife Teresa in 1967 and, over the past 37 years, has become the hub of the city's Italian community.

However, Saturday marked a sad day for their son Paolo, who began serving everything from pastas and olive oil, to salamis, cheeses and olives in the store - at the age of four.

But while the closure marks the end of an era for that particular part of the city, Mr Ceci's Mealcheapen Street delicatessen will continue.

Forty-year-old Paolo, who took over the original shop in 1981 after his father died, said he had made the move as trade had declined over the years and to concentrate on the wholesale side of the business.

The store marked the occasion by offering free wine. Julia Byrne, from Hanley Castle, who was the shop's first customer, was also due to attend.

"It's very sad really because they're quite like a little family to us and the community they serve - it's been more than just going into a shop and getting what you want," she said.

Francesco Ceci was a Second World War PoW in a camp at Perdiswell, Worcester and worked at a Hanbury farm after the war, before returning to Italy where he met and married his wife.

However, job prospects were poor so they returned to Hanbury to work on the farm, before starting their shop.

Their son Paolo, who teaches Italian cookery at Worcester College of Technology, was involved at an early age and expanded the business about 15 years ago into wholesale.

He opened the city centre store about 14 months ago and has seen loyal customers returning from as far afield as Blackpool, Glasgow and Cornwall.

"There has been a lot of changes and at first I remember not being utterly convinced going into the business because I wanted to do my studies," he said.

"I've met such a lot of nice people from all walks of life over the years though - I've lost count of the amount of times I must have put the espresso on to have a coffee and chat with customers!"