A village store which has been run by the same couple for nearly a quarter of the century, is being put on the market.

The store in the village of Stelling Minnis, between Canterbury and Folkestone, has been run by Bruce and Emma Warden but they have now decided to retire.

They said of the decision to put Stelling Minnis Stores on the market: "When we took the shop on in 1995, it was in danger of closing, as had many other local village shops over the years and redundancy provided a spur to take on a new challenge.

"One of the major factors in our decision was that it allowed us to remain in this special village and obtain a residential property that was considerably larger than we could have afforded in a stand-alone situation. Both our girls have grown up and moved on and we feel it’s time to close this chapter and hand the business on to younger people who can take it to next level.”

Business property advisor Christie & Co is marketing the store which occupies a large, three storey building and offers a wide range of goods as well as National Lottery services. The store also benefits from customer parking to the front of the property.

Additionally, the property features owner’s accommodation across the first and second floors, comprising four bedrooms.

We feel it’s time to close this chapter and hand the business on to younger people who can take it to next level

Jack Dudley, senior business agent at Christie & Co’s Maidstone office, which is handling the sale, said: “The current owners have developed strong ties with the local community during their 24 years of ownership and as such, have built a strong and loyal customer base. Situated in a strong trading position with limited local competition, this store represents an excellent opportunity for an operator looking for a new business venture with great potential."

The freehold of the site is on the market for £630,000.