The family-run Turtle's store has been serving customers for 111 years.

The present manager, Jeremy Turtle, is the great-grandson of Louis Henry Turtle, who founded the shop in 1894.

Since then the hardware store in Park Street, Croydon, has been passed down from generation to generation making it one of Croydon's oldest independent businesses.

"We concentrate on service by helping the customer the old-fashioned way, we give them advice and answer their questions," said Mr Turtle.

Turtle's has around 40 staff, many work part-time, but it is a credit to the company that many of its loyal employees have worked at the shop for years - one serving almost 30 years.

Mr Turtle said: "People come to us with a problem because we can often help them as a lot of our staff have their own houses and families so they do their own DIY and maintenance. A lot of our staff used to be in the building trade or engineering."

And he is determined to continue running the store for as long as possible, despite of the threat of the multi-million Park Place development which could uproot Turtle's from its home, and the fact his son and daughters have no interest in taking his place at the helm.

He said: "I keep an open mind, I don't want to push them into anything, I will carry on as long as I can.

"I have no wish to sell. It the business was started by my great-grandfather and has been part of the family for a long time.

"I have personally always enjoyed working in the store and I'm quite happy to keep going."

Jeremy thinks the friendliness of his employees keeps customers coming back. He said: "I think it's the service people appreciate, we try to be friendly and helpful - giving them advice or instructions so they can fix a leaking tap or pipe themselves."