A new kitchen and bathroom shop has opened in Burnham as a ‘perfect’ tribute to the owner’s late father.

Hardsons, in Regent Street, has been named in memory of a business once owned by the father of owner Richard Hardwidge, and which traded in Princess Street for more than 40 years.

Mr Hardwidge told the Mercury he wanted to move on from his job as an independent fitter and pay tribute to his father in the process.

He said: “My father passed away last year and it seemed like the natural thing to do.

“A lot of people in Burnham knew of his business so it is perfect.

“I am Burnham born and bred so there was nowhere else I could open, really.

“When I was a fitter, I was up at 5.30am and now it still feels weird to start at 8.30am and finish by 6pm.

“The phone doesn’t go after 6pm and I like that.

“I couldn’t do the long hours anymore and have all the aches and pains.

“This is great and I want to give people quality products not, for want of a better word, tat.

“We had been in discussions for quite a while about opening the store but I think it took about a year to sort everything out. It is not easy to start up a new business and there is a lot to think about and organise.

“This is always something I wanted to do. We have been quite busy to be fair so I am very happy.”

The shop includes a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom showroom and provides both furnishings and fittings.