A FANCY dress costume shop is due to close its doors soon as the owner has decided to call it a day after 25 years.

Bernard Jackson, a former milkman, ran Maskerade on Bishopton Lane in Stockton, after he swapped his milk float for platform boots.

He began the business with sister Geraldine Seery, who is a silent partner, and ran it with the help of their mum Joan Jackson, who handmade many costumes from scratch and repaired others.

But after his mother's death earlier this year aged 88, and Bernard himself turning 65, he decided the time had come to retire.

"It just wasn't the same after my mother died," he said.

"I decided that now that I'm 65 it was time to call it a day. It's very sad that we are closing the shop but the time is probably right to do it.

"We’re selling everything off now and when it’s all gone we’ll call it a day. We’ve sold a lot already but there are still thousands of costumes left as well and once they have gone that will be when he finally call it a day."

The shop’s closure will also mean a big change for Amy Hatfield, 27, who has worked there since the age of 16 and her boss is also the godfather of her young daughter Amelia.

She said: "It will be really sad when the shop finally closes because it has been like a second home to me."