Friends have erected signs in memory of a 92-year-old man who ran a nearby business for more than 40 years.

Cliff Parkinson, who only retired in April, died peacefully on September 24, just four weeks after his girlfriend passed away.

Mr Parkinson was born and bred in Laindon and ran Parkinson's Motor Spares in High Road, Laindon, for more than 40 years until he retired to spend more time in the garden.

After returning from a cruise recently, Mr Parkinson's girlfriend died, leaving him lost. He then moved near Heathrow to be close to his niece, Lesley <corr>.

Michael Janaway, the new owner of Parkinson's Motor Spares said: "He basically gave up. He told me he had had enough. He is where he wanted to be now."

Mr Janaway has put up signs on the corner of High Road, dubbing the site Parkinson's Corner, as a tribute him.

He said: "Even though it is not official, everybody who lives and grew up around here knows that corner as Parkinson's Corner, so we thought we would put up some signs."