Last updated at 22:10, Thursday, 14 June 2012

A Cockermouth business, which has passed through a generation, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Leslie Cleeland, on Main Street, which sells sofas and carpets, was started in 1962 after Leslie Cleeland bought the former Blue Bell pub building which had stood empty.

His son Michael, 59, of Main Street, now owns the business.

He started working there in 1969 after leaving school, and took over in 1982 when his father retired.

He said: “It is a great achievement that we have done 50 years in the town. We have managed to extend the building by buying a few properties next door as well as adding an upper floor.

“We have been here a long time and want to be here for much longer.

“We have people who will travel to us for the personal service we offer.”

Mr Cleeland said the biggest challenge that the business had faced was the 2009 floods.

He said: “The back of the shop is higher up so after the floods we worked from there and now we virtually have a new shop that is part of the town.”

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 14 June 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk