An independent lighting shop responsible for putting up the first ever Christmas lights in Addiscombe is to close after 35 years.

Design Lighting has been run by husband and wife team Graham and Pam Murphy since 1978.

Mr Murphy a qualified electrician, voluntarily designed and installed the first Christmas lights, which were sponsored by most local traders, to decorate Lower Addiscombe Road in 1987.

The 69-year-old said: "Croydon Council put the supply at the top of a lamppost. We went to a street lighting manufacturers then went out with an extension ladder and rope and hoisted them up with help from family and friends. "

When the couple initially bought their shop, it was just half the size with a barber shop next door, but 16 years ago the shop was expanded when the barber shop moved premises.

The couple who are parents of two, have worked six days a week in the store, which they originally were told "wouldn't last five minutes."

Mrs Murphy, 65, said: "When we got a sign that said lighting shop opening soon, I remember two elderly women walking past and saying 'a lighting shop, that won't last five minutes', it made us feel physically sick.

"Buying the shop was a real gamble, neither of us had experience of shop work and if that's what people thought we thought 'what's going to happen', but 35 years later we are here, we must have done something right."

The couple, who have been married 47 years are retiring ahead of the birth of their first grandchild and the store's lights will be turned off for the final time on June 18.

Mrs Murphy said: "We are sad we are going but the timing is just right.

"There has been a real disappointment from customers that we are closing, they genuinely seem sorry to see the shop go."

Mr Murphy added: "Our closure is very low key, we are just having a sale of our stock, shop displays and display cabinets.

"We would like to thank all our customers for their support over the last 35 years."