The owner of a shoe repair and key cutting business has thanked customers after plans to replace it with new homes were approved.

John Coppack, who runs Fakenham Heel Bar in Oak Street, will bid farewell to shoppers in March.

An application to build three homes at the site, submitted by a Mr J Baldwin in August last year, has been granted by North Norfolk District Council.

They will be one, two and three-bedroom dwellings.

Mr Coppack was an apprentice at Fakenham Heel Bar in the 1980s, before returning in 2009 to take over from the retiring owner, Chris Thomas - who had trained him more than 20 years' prior.

He said: "I have really enjoyed my time here. I started here when I was 16 and I will really miss my customers.

“Thanks for all your support over the past decade and more.”

Mr Coppack's final day at the Heel Bar, whose slogan is 'keeping Fakenham on its feet', will be Saturday, March 19.

Read more at fakenhamtimes.co.uk next week.