A historic Darlington greengrocer, considered one of the oldest in the world, will serve its final customers today after more than 150 years.
JJ Blair and Sons, known to many loyal customers as Blairs, has traded in Darlington's Indoor Market since 1875 when Benjamin Disraeli was PM and Queen Victoria was monarch.
But today, Friday, October 9, will mark the end of an era as the greengrocer stall officially closes, just months after the death of its long-standing owner Robin Blair.
The business has passed through five generations of the Blair family, selling fresh fruit and vegetables alongside plants and flowers.
While the market stall will close, the family's nursery on Barmpton Lane, where some of its plants and flowers are grown, will remain open.
Christine Hanlon, who has worked at the greengrocer for more than 30 years, previously confirmed the stall would close because there was nobody to take the business on.
Christine Hanlon has worked at the grocer for three decades.
A closing down sale has been taking place in the run up to its final day, with a Facebook post telling customers: "When it's gone, it's gone."
The closure comes after Mr Blair died aged 81 following a short illness in July.
Mr Blair, the grandson of the business's founder, was Darlington's longest serving market trader and had spent more than 70 years working at the stall.
He began helping with the family business as a child before leaving school at 15 to become more involved.
He later took over from his father and continued the business established by his grandfather, JJ Blair, in 1875, just 12 years after Darlington Market opened.
The business survived two world wars, economic downturns and the Covid pandemic.
Mr Blair had spoken about the challenges facing the market amid falling footfall and the loss of other long established traders.
His death earlier this year prompted an outpouring of affection across the town.
Hundreds gathered in Darlington town centre to pay their respects when his funeral cortege stopped outside the market where he spent most of his life.
Hundreds attend the funeral cortege of Robin Blair
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Former colleagues called Mr Blair the "backbone" of the market, while Darlington Borough Council deputy leader Chris McEwan called him "an institution for Darlington".