A GIFT shop that has served residents and tourists for more than 18 years will be converted into a house.

Little Gems gift shop, in Station Street, Silloth, run by Niki Pearson, closed at the end of August, after the proprietor decided it was the right time to do so.

Mrs Pearson said that she and her husband had not been very well recently and her husband has been shielding during the coronavirus lockdown.

The owners took the decision to close the shop entirely and applied to Allerdale Borough Council to turn the ground floor accommodation into a residential property.

The council have approved the plans, which would involve changing the shop area and the room at the rear of the property, which is used as a stock room, into two new living rooms, an entrance porch, cupboard, and a new kitchen. This will be added to their existing living accommodation in Station Street.

The shop previously stocked a range of items including scarves, hair accessories, hand made fabric items, cushions, jewellery, wedding jewellery, fabric and gift packs for special occasions.

Mr and Mrs Pearson intend to stay in Silloth and Mrs Pearson hopes to do something creative in the future. She said: “We love Silloth. I’m hoping to go online and do something for the customers in the future, because I make things, but I was always too busy with the shop.

“I want to be able to make all sorts of things such as bunting and garlands.

“All my customers are lovely, both locally and from away and I’ve made some lovely friends.”