A businessman whose family firm has traded in Clevedon for more than 100 years says he feels forced to close the business.

Mike Seeley says H Seeley and Co, which opened in Hill Road in 1900, will close its doors for the final time on December 24 because the shop is unable to meet stringent fire regulations.

Mr Seeley, who took over the business from his father, Robert, in 1972, was visited by fire safety inspectors earlier this year. He was told the ceiling of his premises needed to be fully fireproofed to protect the properties on the second floor.

Mr Seeley said the work would cost in the region of £10,000.

H Seeley and Co, which sells stationery, newspapers and other items including books, was opened by Mr Seeley’s grandfather Herbert in 1900. It was originally based in numbers 55 and 57 – now occupied by Pullins Bakery and the St Peter’s Hospice shop – but moved to number 61 in 1929 where it has remained ever since.

Mr Seeley, 78, said: “The shop floor is about 2,500 sq ft so it would be a big job to fireproof the ceiling and cost in excess of £10,000 which is money that I do not have. I have decided, especially at my age and with no one to pass the business on to, that it is just not worth spending the money.

“I will be ever so sorry to finish the business, I am heartbroken really, but I have no choice.”

Mr Seeley’s grandfather had a number of businesses in Hill Road including a music shop which sold pianos. But over the years a number of the businesses have been sold off and just H Seeley and Co and the shop leased by Pullins Bakery remain.

Mr Seeley said: “Hill Road has changed so much over the years.

“When I was a young man there were lots of grocery shops and a couple of chemists and two banks.

“When I started everything was sold in pounds, shillings and pence. I can remember our team of paperboys going out on their Seeley’s pushbikes with the baskets on the front to deliver the papers.

“I think the only two businesses that were around during that time that still remain in Hill Road is us and Challicoms of Clevedon.”

Mr Seeley employs seven part-time staff at the shop, all of whom will now lose their jobs. The shop will now either be sold or leased.

Mr Seeley said: “There has been a lot of interest in the shop, especially from national firms, but we are not sure what is going to happen to it.

“I have met some great people over the last years and I will be sad to say goodbye to them. But I won’t be sorry not to have to get up every morning at 4.15am to do the papers.”

Paper deliveries are being taken over by Alexandra News when H Seeley and Co closes.