A HAMPSHIRE hardware shop has closed its doors for the last time after serving the local community for more than 21 years.

The In-Excess store, which was next to the Asda supermarket in High Street, West End, has shut following the expiry of its lease.

Staff have transferred to the In-Excess garden centre at Winchester Road, Fair Oak.

An In-Excess spokesman said: "After 21 years at West End, our lease has come to an end.

"We took the decision to leave now as we can offer a much-improved service at our Fair Oak site which is just 3.7 miles away - ten-minute drive."

The spokesman said the company's business model had "outgrown" West End.

"Customers today shop differently and have a much greater choice of shopping methods," he said: "This became even more apparent during lockdown as our online and home delivery service grew exponentially."

The seven-acre Fair Oak site is bigger and boasts 140 parking spaces.

Other facilities include a car wash and aquatic and craft centres, plus a curtains, blind-making and fitting service.

"We can offer seven-day-a-week delivery service and opening shortly is a new120-seater restaurant and coffee lounge.

"Retail is changing - we must evolve or perish."

"It was sad to leave West End after more than 20 years and we thank all our customers for their patronage."