THE owners of Barron's of Chard, a men’s clothing shop in Somerset, described by ITV News as an "institution" that closed in November after running for 42 years, have come forward to thank the community for all their support.

The owners John and Mandy had intended to sell the business as a growing concern but, they informed us that the potential buyer pulled out only days before completion of the sale.

READ MORE: Chard store closes permanently as owners retire after over 40 years

John is now 72 years old and has owned and run the business for 42 years with his wife – who did admin and ran the accounts.

“The decision to close was taken after spending many months progressing a sale that failed to complete. It was with very mixed emotions that we decided we had no option but to close,” John and Mandy Barron said.

They added that running a business is very hard work and very time consuming and in the current economic climate another sale could have taken many months or even years to come to fruition.

“As a family we did not feel we had the resilience to start the sale process all over again,” they said.

South West School wear in Taunton reportedly came to their aid however, offering to supply the primary school uniforms that Barron's of Chard previously stocked – thus ensuring the continuity of supply for those schools.

Barron’s prior to closing permanently donated all their remaining unsold Holyrood School PE kit to St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice charity shop in Chard to sell for their benefit.

Joh and Mandy sincerely hope the old shop premises will be sold or re-let soon to another enterprise as they feel it is a huge waste to see another shop in Chard sat empty and abandoned.

“We would like to thank the Chard community for supporting our family business over the last 42 years and also for the many kind words, gifts and cards we have received during the closing down period,” they added.

John, in particular, has said he will greatly miss the social aspect of running the shop but will no doubt meet past customers when he is out and about in Chard or walking in the Blackdown Hills.

John and Mandy are now looking forward to having more time to spend with their family and to do some travelling.