A FAMILY-RUN garage is to close down after almost 80 years in business.

Cottee’s West End Garage, in High Street, Dedham, was founded in 1937, after William Cottee bought what was at the time a blacksmith's cottage and adjoining shop.

It has subsequently been run by his son James and his grandsons Tony and Dennis.

But the brothers, along with Tony’s wife, Georgina, who has been its receptionist for 47 years, have decided it is time to call it a day.

Mrs Cottee, 65, said: “We are sad to leave the many loyal customers and leave them without a garage, but are very much looking forward to retirement."

Mother-of-two Mrs Cottee admitted they were excited at the opportunity to spend more time with family and friends and enjoy hobbies.

Dennis, who is married to Veronica, has two children and seven grandchildren.

The garage’s last day of trading will be May 29, and then the building will be put up for sale.

Tony and Dennis’ grandfather, William Ephraim Tapsfield Cottee, was a steam roller driver and it was his job which brought him to Dedham in the early 1900s.

He married Julia Hunnaball in 1911 and bought the blacksmith’s cottage and adjoining shop in the late 1930s. The couple had one daughter and two sons, including James.

James went to Australia as a youngster and stayed there for 12 years until he returned at the request of his father to run the business.

He did so from 1937 until he joined the Royal Air Force with the threat of war brewing.

James was stationed in the West Country and remained in the RAF for the duration of the war, returning to the garage in 1945.

By this time James had married Mabel and they had two sons, Tony and Dennis.

Dennis joined the RAF as a youngster while Tony went into the business aged 14, when he left school.

He had already helped out on Saturdays by filling oil bottles, serving petrol and doing the odd jobs his father gave him.

Tony went to technical college and qualified asamechanic to work there.

In its early days, the garage sold paraffin, petrol, cigarettes and charging batteries, plus running a taxi service.

Having already helped with the paperwork, Georgina, Tony’s girlfriend at the time, came to work for the garage in 1968.

Dennis left the Air Force in 1972 and joined the business.

The family plan to have a drink with customers in the village in the coming weeks.