ONE oF Middlewich's oldest serving shops celebrates its 25th birthday this Thursday, October 21.

Proberts Butchers on Wheelock Street was opened in 1974 when Brian Probert rented the building as a small shop. After six years he bought the shop and extended it and he now owns flats above the shop and the hairdressers next door.

Brian, who runs the shop with his wife Debbie, said: "It has been hard work to keep the shop going, particularly over recent years, with the BSE crisis and new government regulations.

"The town itself has changed dramatically and has seen huge growth, but the people are great. I still have customers coming in today who came in on the very first day and I want to say thank you to all of my customers," he added

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