Customers have been left in tears following the closure of an iconic family-run business.

Beloved community repair shop, Automatica has bid its final farewell to shoppers after 60 years trading in Station Road, Crayford.

The company sold new and second-hand appliances and repaired washing machines, hoovers and microwaves since 1964.

The store sat in the heart of Crayford, and despite being across the road from big retailers Curry’s - and for a time Comet - at Tower Retail Park, had thrived for decades.

Linda Barnes, whose son owned the business, said: “We’ve had so many people, believe it or not, crying on the phone because it’s been such an important part of the community.

“I can’t explain what sort of shop it was.”

Michael had worked at Automatica since fresh out of school at 17 back when it was run by three men overseeing the repairs of four machines at a time.

But, by 2000 the then 32-year-old took the plunge and bought the shop.

His mum said: “In the first year that he owned it and ran it, the accountant had to check his books twice because he couldn’t believe what a turnaround Michael had made.

“On average, he would have about 30 machines of all appliances in the shop stacked up at the back.”

Linda took on the role of bookkeeper and her husband Alan would help out in the workshop.

They would have contracts with local estate agents and Belmarsh Prison to repair their appliances.

The 77-year-old said: “It was just absolutely buzzing – we used to have people coming from Maidstone because there were no other shops like us.

“I would be at the desk on my own and the customers used to say ‘How on earth do you cope?’.

“I’d literally have two phones, one in each hand trying to, it never stopped. It was just constant.”

Much of the store’s success is a credit to Michael, says the mum-of-two.

“He was literally Automatica - everybody loved him.

“It was a family business, but very much Michael’s business – he was the type to never get above himself.

“If somebody came in and he was about to shut up shop and they wanted a packet of hoover bags he would not close but go in and get them.”

In December 2020, Michael died from Covid, aged just 53.

After, the store struggled as two of the three engineers retired, and as the family navigated running the business post-pandemic while dealing with the loss of Michael.

Linda added: “The frustrating thing was there was so much business but we just couldn’t cope with just one engineer.

“We didn’t have the amount of money coming in that you would with three, so even if we had got another in we wouldn’t have been able to pay him.

“It is just an absolute tragedy.”

Automatica ceased operating on Tuesday, September 17.

After making an announcement on Facebook, former customers flocked to comment to express their sadness at the closure.

One said: “You’ve helped us out numerous times and unlike other places haven’t juiced up the price to do so.

“You’ll be genuinely missed. Thanks for all your help over the years, been very lucky to have you down the road.”

Another added: “I wish you all the luck in the world. An icon of Crayford that’s been there for many years.”