Traditional Bedlington shop to close its doors after almost 100 years

A Northumberland hardware store which has served generations of families in Bedlington Station for almost 100 years is closing its doors this month.

Joan Muter, 84, is reluctantly shutting up shop at R & L Keenleysides shop after working in the same store for more than six decades to enjoy a well-earned retirement.

The store first started out as a small hardware shop launched by Bob Keenleyside.

Morris Muter, Mrs Muter’s late husband, started helping out Mr Keenleyside with joinery work for his customers in the late 1950s and, once their family were of school age, Mrs Muter also helped out on Saturdays.

In 1965 the couple took over the store from Mr Keenleyside.

While her husband took care of the timber side of the business, Mrs Muter learned first-hand how to run a business, doing the accounts and looking after customers.