THE owner of a Court Road timber yard that has existed for more than a century has announced he is to close it at the end of this month.

Doringe Timber's owner Simon Hull is leaving to take up a post with Solihull-based timber firm Wyckham Blackwell.

Mr Hull said it was sad for the town to lose such a specialist service.

"A lot of my customers rely on the kind of service I have been giving them," he said.

But he says competition with larger businesses has forced his hand.

There will be no redundancies, as his only employee left for a new job before Christmas.

The firm, which he inherited from his father-in-law eight years ago, will go on the market although he will retain the land.