A much-loved fish and chip shop will close at the end of the month as its long-time owners are retiring after 43 years at the helm.

Keith and Christine Johnson have confirmed they are finally hanging up their aprons and calling time on Eastry Fish Bar, just minutes away from Sandwich.

First opening in 1981, the Johnsons have raised a family in the area and have been a staple of the community ever since opening the village’s first takeaway.

But with a final trading date of August 31 in their sights, the couple of 45 years this September say retiring has long been on their minds.

“Our health isn't as good as it should be and we cut down the hours, we only trade three days a week now because we know we can cope with that ourselves,” Mrs Johnson said.

“If you don't need to work anymore, then you've got to say enough's enough, haven't you?

“We just want to thank everybody for the custom that we've had and the support over the years to make it successful - we've enjoyed what we do.

“It's going to be hard to close those doors, knowing there's nobody else there to take it over yet.

“We're happy that we're retiring, but it's just quite sad that the village is going to lose this business unless somebody comes along and buys it.”

Although not fully out of the workplace yet, Mr Johnson – who turns 69 this month – is a keen golfer and is keen to spend more time on the course.

Christine also hopes to pick up her clubs, having been forced to miss many tournaments thanks to having to work Saturdays.

The decision to finally retire comes after a four-year battle to sell off the site as they hoped to see a new owner take it over.

Although there has been interest in renting the takeaway, the couple say any sale would need to be freehold as their house directly links to the shop and would need renovations to rejig the layout.

However, the duo still hope someone could come in and buy the plot, allowing them to relocate elsewhere near Sandwich and see their beloved fish bar stay open under new ownership.

“The scope is there for anyone else to take it to do as many days as they want,” Mrs Johnson said.

“We just can't understand why nobody wants to take it on.

“We're on the corner of a beautiful part of Eastry – it's still a busy village.”

Having opened for business on September 1, 1981 – their second wedding anniversary – the Johnsons have seen a lot of changes in both village life and customer habits.

As the first fish and chip shop in the area, the pair settled into a policy of only selling what they would find fit to eat themselves and became well-known for serving quality food.

They moved to the area after a year working at a similar business in Woking after Mr Johnson’s father stumbled across the property while driving through the village.

Although the opening of other takeaways has provided competition, Mrs Johnson believes the traditional meal rules supreme as people cannot truly replicate fish and chips in kitchens at home.

With vast experience between them, they have been able to navigate through tricky times – including the killer blow of seeing the mining community obliterated.

“When we opened, the mining community was the biggest employer around here because of the mines,” said Mrs Johnson, 65.

“Trade was different because they were all shift workers so you used to get a good lunchtime trade as well as evening trade.

“Then we went through the miners' strike and struggled through that bit when everyone was out of work and off work, then the bypass opened so we've struggled through sometimes but we've come out of it at the other end.

“You've got to take the good times and the bad times, haven't you? You can't expect to be totally extra busy all the time, taking lots of money.

“There are weeks when it's dead quiet and you just go through it.”

Anyone who does wish to buy the business is encouraged to contact Eastry Fish Bar via social media or over the phone.