A FAMILIAR name in Ludlow is celebrating 150 years in business.

Rickards and Sons in the Bull Ring is still going places and recently opened a new sales and courtyard area.

But the company believes that more could be done to help businesses in the town and identifies parking charges as one of the problems.

“Pressures on peoples spending power has a significant impact nationwide and Rickards,” said Mike Lloyd, chairman and managing director.

“I do genuinely feel that shops in market towns such as Ludlow need the support of the local authorities in maintaining a vibrant town centre, in controlling out of town retail development and I am sure I am not alone in seeking more help on business rates and car parking charges.

“A market town close to our family home in Lincolnshire is now offering two hours free parking and the town centre is buzzing,”

In 1864 Heber Rickards’ the son of a local farmer in Wistanstow purchased 6 Bull Ring to set up an agricultural ironmongers. For six years he lived over the shop and then expanded into the house next door no 7, fitted it out from top to bottom with drawers, cupboards and shelves.

Every nook and cranny was filled with all things 'hardware' and the heavy duty counter displayed paints and polishes, the drawers below and behind packed with hooks, nails and fixings – all such features and more still being retained today 150 years on.