A High Wycombe jewellers which has been shining bright in the town centre for more than 20 years will close its doors for the last time today (Friday).

A.D. Moth Jewellers, in Queens Square, “opened with a bang” almost 23 years ago to the sound of drums and firecrackers as a people dressed as a traditional Chinese lion danced through the town.

Tony Moth, who has run the store alongside his wife Irene, said he is being dragged “kicking and screaming” away from his beloved business adding “it is miserable” to wave goodbye.

He said: “I had a woman here the other day, she must have been about five years old when we opened and first came in, when she was just learning what shops actually are, and she said “you’ve been here all my life” and she came in with her daughter.

“It is miserable. I don’t want to go but I suppose I have got to. I will miss coming in and out and getting to know people.

“Having girls come in and get and engagement ring, then the wedding ring and then come in for christening things.”

The 79-year-old joined the jewellery business in 1956 at the age of 17 after a stalwart jeweller jokingly said “pretty girls come into the shop and you can hold their hands” - in a bid to tempt Mr Moth into the trade.

The most expensive item sold in A.D. Moth was a single diamond ring costing around £17,000 – believed to have been bought by a woman following a divorce settlement.

Mr Moth continued: “I have been a jeweller since 1956. I love it. When you get a woman who brings in her engagement ring that she has worn for years and it’s all worn out and maybe lost a stone.

“We rebuild it and put a stone back in and it looks like new and the look on their face when you give it back looking as new as when they first get it is just priceless. It makes me feel all warm inside.”

The pair are looking forward spending time with their grandchildren and visiting family in across the globe as they prepare to embrace retired life.

Mrs Moth, 65, said: “It is sad in many ways but I am also a bit relieved. It has become necessary to retire now. We have got two grandchildren and it will be good to spend some time with them. I don’t want them to look at us and be a stranger.

“We want to travel a bit. I have family in the Far East so it will be good to catch up with them. We have never been able to travel together before for long periods of time.”