A popular shop is for sale after serving the community for 48 years.

John Drake, 69, of John Winter Drake Jewellers, has seen Halstead change from being a “thriving town centre which exported goods around the world”.

“Courtaulds used to export nationally and most stoves were made by Portway.

“If you go the London Underground, most of the drains were made by Wade International.

“The good news is that these businesses are still running.

“At one stage we employed nine people in the shop and we had workshops upstairs."

The shop will continue to be open until a buyer is found.