Billions of years of history are coming to an end with the closure of Silver End's "Fossil Hall".

Also known as Baldwin's Scientific Books, the Boars Tye Road shop has attracted those seeking specialist titles on geology and science for more than 20 years.

But now owner Stuart Baldwin, who also deals in fossil reproductions, is selling his stock and closing the shop, in order to pursue his academic interests and hobbies.

The bookshop has been one of Silver End's most unusual features since it opened in 1980. Often overlooked by residents, it attracts customers from around the world.

Mr Baldwin, 71, said: "I get a lot of visitors from around the world who come and spend the whole day here. It's the only bookshop of its kind in the country."

In 1988, David Bellamy opened a fossil and zoology museum at the shop, which was later taken over by the Open University and moved to Milton Keynes.

A number of the original exhibits have been returned for a final exhibition at the bookshop, including a sabre-toothed tiger skull, Ichtyosaurus skeleton and dinosaur leg.

Mr Baldwin will continue to run the book and fossil businesses by phone and internet from his home in School Road, Wickham Bishops.

He said: "I'm in my 70s. I wanted to do a PhD with the Open University and to do that I really need to work from home."

He became a Guinness record-breaker two years ago as the slowest student in the world. It took him 28 years to complete a BSc general science degree with the Open University.

But he will have to speed up the research for his PhD on the role of the amateur in British palaeontology, as there is a strict time limit of eight years to complete it.

Published Monday, March 25, 2002