Braintree town centre is on the verge of losing its only babywear shop.

Muffets nursery shop, which opened in Market Street 25 years ago, will be closing in a few months time if owner Sandra Cutmore cannot find anyone to take over the lease and continue the business.

She said: "I've got hundreds of good memories from the shop. It's been a lot of fun and I will be sad to leave but I feel it's time to move on."

When it opened, there were two other shops in the town selling nursery goods but both closed soon after and Muffets has been the local pram provider ever since.

She said: "The town needs this kind of shop. There's nowhere else locally you can get everything for a new baby."

The shop is well-known in the town for its adventurous window displays - arranged by long-serving staff Trina Whittaker, Isobel Byiast and Pauline Green - to celebrate special occasions.

Published Wednesday, January 29, 2003

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