MYSTERY surrounds the closure of a city fish and chip shop once run by a larger-than-life local character and now boarded up.

Wooden boards completely covered the frontage of Lowesmoor Fish Bar in Lowesmoor, Worcester, this week.

Staff at other nearby businesses said the boards went up on Monday but were unable to shed any light on why the business had closed so suddenly and without any apparent explanation.

MORE STORIES: Materials on the way for new bund at Severn Stoke

MORE STORIES: 14 arrests of alleged drug dealers in Worcester 

However, they say the shop was closed for a few weeks before the boards were installed.

Worcester News: CLOSED: Is it the end of an era at Lowesmoor Fish Bar in Lowesmoor which is now boarded up? Photo: James ConnellCLOSED: Is it the end of an era at Lowesmoor Fish Bar in Lowesmoor which is now boarded up? Photo: James Connell

No explanation is given by way of a notice on the fish and chip shop itself or on the shop's website or Facebook page. Efforts have been made by the Worcester News to contact the business to find out more. 

The fish and chip shop is described on its own website as 'a long-standing family takeaway that specialises in fish, burgers and kebabs'.

Worcester News: CHARACTER: Honky Fletcher outside the fish and chip shop in Lowesmoor when he ran it CHARACTER: Honky Fletcher outside the fish and chip shop in Lowesmoor when he ran it

Previously the business was run by local character “Honky” (George) Fletcher, who had the shop for more than 50 years until he retired in 1985.

Worcester News stalwart writer Mike Pryce described how Mr Fletcher was given the nickname as a lad when he delivered bread at night and would drive round the city streets shouting “Honk, Honk, Honk” because his van hadn’t got a horn. 

Mr Pryce wrote: “'Honky' Fletcher was so well known he is probably the only person ever to have an “anti-obituary” carried in this paper.

"That happened when he went into hospital for a serious operation and a well-meaning friend reported him dead. The news soon spread like wildfire, leading his wife to take out a notice in the paper to say that, in fact, her husband was recovering well, while another in his chippy window said simply “Honky’s OK”."

One woman from a local business, who did not wish to be identified, said: "I don't know what is going on. It's normally a busy fish shop. They did deliveries. It seemed to be always busy."

The business earned a five-star food hygiene rating when it was inspected on March 10 this year by Worcestershire Regulatory Services.