A POPULAR Largs gift store which has been operating near the town's seafront for 22 years is to close.

Largo Gifts is shutting up to allow owner Franca Sheridan to spend more time with her family.

She will continue to run Gino's Fish Fryer in Tron Place.

The 51-year-old said: "I have another grandchild coming along and I think it is time to start living my life. I made myself a promise 11 years ago when I had breast cancer to start enjoying things more.

"I wanted to get through my treatment and when I did I made the decision then to start slowing things down and enjoying my family.

"My father, who is 87, has Alzheimers and I want to help my sister with his care.

"I don't think I have the head space to run two businesses, 22 years is a good innings with Largo."

"It's been a pleasure serving all of my lovely customers over the years.

"The name Largo seemed to resonate with the public and it's been great fun."

Franca says it was a steep learning curve when she first opened the business back in May 1998.

She added "I had never worked in that kind of retail so I was just winging it at first and there were a number of successes and failures. We managed to get in some rare and unique stock which was very much in demand and we've were constantly evolving."

The small shop in Gallowgate Street will be cleared out when the majority of stock has been sold and anything left will be given over to charity shops.

She said: "Working in a seafront town, there seems to be a lot of affection for the place, and we have had some brilliant customers over the years. I speak a few languages including French, German and Spanish so people from these countries would love that they could come into the shop and converse with me.

"The other lovely thing has been seeing families and children growing up from babies to teenagers.

"I will miss the interaction but I will be still be at Gino's if anyone wants to come in and say hello."

Franca thanked Kim Neill, who has worked with her in the premises for many years, and said she was looking forward to saying farewell to customers in the closing down sale which is on now.