IT’S been a fixture in the town for quarter of a century - a place where you would go to pick up a wee bag of sweets.

However, The Sweet Shop on Peebles High Street is set to close its doors.

After 25 years behind the counter Jim Borthwick, the proprietor, will call time next month, insisting that the moment was right to bring the shop to an end.

But he leaves with many great memories, and says he’s looking forward to retirement.

Jim said: “I’ve loved every minute of running this shop.

"The one thing that’s amazed me over the years, is the loyalty of my customers.

"People who have come from the first year of high school, to their last and all the way into adulthood have kept coming back which is a real privilege.

"It’s been great fun, and I will be sad to leave, but the time’s come.

"I’ve had so many great customers and I’ve loved chatting to them, which is something that I’ll definitely miss.

“I’m looking forward to filling my time with other things, and I’m sure my wife will keep me out of trouble!”

Mr Borthwick established the shop in 1992, having previously ran a grocery shop in the Northgate.

He continued: “There has been a lot of changes over the years - people’s shopping habits have drastically changed.

“I actually started with a grocery shop in the Northgate before I started the Sweet Shop. I was working there for a while, but then I saw the lease for this building pop up.

“I realised then that perhaps groceries wasn’t the way forward. I then took on the lease for this shop.

“I’ve worked in retail for my whole life - my mother and father also had a grocery shop further down the Northgate years ago.

“I’d always been used to sweets in my life, my father had an ice cream van for a while, so you could say confectionary is something I’ve been around my whole life!”

Jim now looks forward to doing more voluntary work and getting along to see his beloved Hearts in action.

Before pulling down the shutters one last time he wanted to thank his customers for their years of loyalty.

Jim added; “I just want to say thank you so much for the past 25 years, you’ve all been absolutely fantastic.

"I’ve made so many great friends through this shop.”