ONE of Barnsley's longest established florist shops has closed after trading in the town for 43 years.
Dennis Beevers closed last weekend and the business has now been merged with Pickering's Florists in nearby Peel Street.
Mr Beevers founded the florists which carries his name in 1971.
He went on to trade successfully from the shop, close to the town end roundabout on Dodworth Road, for 37 years.
In October 2008 he retired and sold the business on to Simon Curley, who he had previously trained in the art of floristry.
Mr Curley explained to the Chronicle that the decision to close was brought on by the shop's location and lack of footfall.
He said: "We just didn't need a shop front any more. The premises in Dodworth Road are not ideally placed due to the parking situation, made worse by the complete mess the current roadworks have created.
"As a result passing trade at that end of town was dwindling. We decided now was the best time to move on."
** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated August 22. **
