'I can't believe we're still here': Burnham newsagent marks landmark year

And Colin Morris, owner of GW Hurley, says the shop is still going strong as it gets ready to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

The popular newsagent, in Burnham's High Street, was originally opened as a bric-a-brac shop in 1919 by Colin's grandmother, Florence Hurley, who later turned it into a newsagents after being approached by a publisher.

Colin said: "My grandmother started selling papers shortly after getting the shop and it is something that we have never stopped doing.

"It got bigger and bigger and we took on more titles and expanded.

"I was born in a room above the shop 74 years ago and have lived in Burnham-on-Sea for the whole of my life.

"I started running the shop 53 years ago. I was working for my parents at the time as my grandmother was ill and so I helped her out for a few years and then ended up taking it over.

"Over the years the shop has gone from strength to strength. Every year that we have made a profit we have expanded.

"I also own a GW Hurley toy shop across the street from my newsagents and a handbag shop in the town which have both been successful."

To celebrate the shop's 100th anniversary the store will be having drinks, cake and nibbles on Friday, June 14.

And Colin said the store would not be around if customers had not continued to support them.

"The community has been so good to us and has given us such fantastic support for the last 100 years. I can't thank them enough for their support," he said.

"High streets across the country are struggling at the moment and trading conditions are not easy but we are still here.

"I think it is down to our loyal customers who have supported us for all these years.

"Shops are still coming into Burnham which is a good sign and we are still here despite the changing trading conditions over the years.

"Sadly some of our older customers are starting to pass away and not as many young people are interested in papers nowadays but we will continue to tick on."