Newsagents left devastated after ram-raiders stoved in their shopfront say the incident has forced them to retire sooner than planned.

Richard and Anne Manuel first bought St Stephens News in Canterbury in 1985 - nine years after Mr Manuel started there as a paperboy.

The pair left the St Stephen's Road shop just before Christmas but say the raid last October - which saw thousands of pounds of cigarettes stolen - pushed them into retirement.

“The effects of the raid are still carrying on because we still haven't had anything back from insurance companies and it all takes a very long time,” Mr Manuel, 64, said.

“People don't realise the knock-on effect it has for everybody.

“It was our livelihood. Although my wife and I had thought of retiring, we were in no rush.

“But the ram-raid and all that came with it just made us bring that to a head.

“It was sad to go out like that after 40 years of trading; it felt a bit like we were pushed out.

“But we already had a buyer so we just said we want to bring this forward and go as quickly as possible.”

The perpetrators were captured on CCTV reversing into the shop, causing structural damage to the site on Saturday, October 28 at about 11pm.

Mr and Mrs Manuel were returning from a meal when they noticed police swarming around their shop.

But despite the abrupt ending, the couple say they “loved every second” of owning the store, which is where they first met in their teens.

They got married in 1981 and four years later bought the shop.

“In 1985 the owners decided to retire and sell up,” Mr Manuel added.

“They had already got themselves a buyer but when I spoke to my father-in-law he said ‘why don't you buy it?’

“He helped me get a 100% loan and so the people who owned it were happy to sell it to me instead.

“We have three children and all of them had to work at the shop at some stage, whether that be delivering paper or working behind the counter.

“Our grandchildren also like running around and playing with the tills so we have lots of happy memories.”

Over the years the Manuels have seen many changes and say the growth of supermarkets meant smaller newsagents have had to diversify to keep up.

“In the earlier days, it was simple – papers, sweets and magazines – but now it is a bit of everything,” Mr Manuel explained.

“We also saw the introduction of the lottery. I thought at the time it wasn't going to take off but I was wrong.

“In the early days, we had to have four members of staff behind the counter just to keep up with the lottery ticket sales.

“Newspaper sales are diminishing, but around the St Stephens area there are die-hard newspaper lovers so we were fortunate to still have a large delivery area and that's partly why the business has been so successful up until now.”

As the pair settle into retirement, they say they are looking forward to travelling together while watching the new owners take over the next chapter of the shop, which is set to have a revamp.

Mr Manuel said: “We sold our business just before Christmas and the new owners are going to make it into a bigger, more exciting venue.

“We had a buyer who has always been interested. He is successful in other shops so we are looking forward to seeing what he does with it.

“When we left so many people sent us letters saying they were sad to see us go because the shop became a community hub.

“People would come in two or three times a day and we would hear all about their families and we got to know so many people.

“I have only been retired a month but I'm missing all the contact I used to have with people.”

KentOnline revealed earlier this week how Scott Barham, of Beckett Avenue, Canterbury, is facing a minimum three-year spell behind bars for his part in the ram-raid.

He stole tobacco and cigarettes worth £7,000 after a car was driven into the front window.

Barham was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court to burglary, as well as allowing himself to be carried in a Citroen DS3 taken without authority and bearing stolen number plates on the same date.

He will be sentenced next week.