Richmond garden and farm centre is to close on December 15 after weeks of uncertainty over its future.

The move sees the end of the 27-year-old business and the loss of 13 jobs.

Proprietor Mr Mike Pattison took the decision after long discussions with his legal adviser about an extension licence which would have allowed him to operate until October next year.

The licence was offered by Richmondshire District Council, which owns the former station building in which the business is housed.

Earlier this year, the authority told Mr Pattison that the site was earmarked for leisure use and his business did not fit into that category.

The building has been marketed in the Estates Gazette in the hope of attracting a leisure-based developer.

Mr Pattison says the council would not renew his lease, but the authority insists he gave notice to quit without prompting.

"Our last day of trading will be December 15," said Mr Pattison. "We could not continue to run. We should be ordering pre-season gardening stuff now for the next season, but if someone came along to buy the building in the meantime, we would be sunk.

"I don't know what I will do in the future. All my thoughts at the moment are on getting rid of the stock we have at this place. It is very sad."