A NEWSAGENT who has worked in Colchester across three decades has retired with a heavy heart.

Dhiraj Shah and wife Harshida plan to spend more time with their first grandchild, Cameron, aged seven weeks.

Mr Shah, 64, has worked at High Street News in High Street, Colchester, for the last six years where he has worked up to 11 hours a day.

It was his last day at work on Thursday.

He said: “We are getting messages of support from everyone and will be sad to see it go.”

Mr Shah’s first job in the retail trade was in London aged 18 where he ran a Jewish delicatessen with his sister.

When he came to Colchester 28 years ago he ran a newsagent in St Botolph’s Street.

Mr Shah said: “Then I moved on from there to Terry’s store at the Parade, Monkwick, where I was for five years.

“From Monkwick I moved onto Lexden News in Church Lane and was there for about four to five years until I moved here six and a half years ago.”

In that time the couple had three children who Mr Shah said he had tried to instil a strong work ethic into.

Mr Shah and his wife have never been off work poorly and said his children had never missed school through illness either.

He added: “I like meeting people, doing different things, every day is different. It is hard work but I have never shied away from hard work.

“I have enjoyed every minute of it, my customers are lovely people and I have made friends on the way.”

As well spending more time with their grandson, Mr and Mrs Shah plan to enjoy a holiday or two.

High Street News will be run under new management.