A real-life Albert Arkwright is hanging up his price gun after almost 40 years behind the counter.

Open All Hours fan Mick Niblett will be closing Cumnor Village Stores for the last time today as he prepares to hand over his business to its new owners. The popular 67-year-old shopkeeper is well known throughout Cumnor for his running joke with former Post Office staff member, Chris Allen.

The pair called each other Arkwright and Granville after characters in the famous BBC comedy.

Villagers started to get in on the joke ten years ago, when Mr Allen changed the receipts on the new shop till to read "Arkwright Stores", instead of Cumnor Village Stores.

The greengrocers has kept true to its 1960s' origins with Mr Niblett still using a price gun instead of bar codes and dressing in a traditional blue greengrocer's smock.

About 40 villagers turned up to say goodbye to Mr Niblett and his wife Janet, also 67, who worked with him three mornings a week.

Mr Niblett, who has run the store in the Old School House, High Street, for 39 years, is retiring to have a hip operation.

He said: "At 67 it's time to retire. It was in my mind when I was young that I wanted to be self employed and since the day I began running this store I have enjoyed it very much.

"I think I have had about two days off with illness in 39 years, so it's about time we had some time away.

"Supermarkets have got a lot to answer for in closing greengrocers, but we have survived because the village has been so supportive."

Mr Niblett, of Chauntrell Way, Abingdon, added: "Me and Chris were both big fans of Open All Hours so we used to take the mick out of each other. We got this new till and I couldn't work out how to use it so Chris came over and when he ran the receipts off they said 'Thank you for shopping at Arkwright's'."

"I couldn't get it off, so it stayed on there for seven or eight years."

Claire Tyrell-Williams, 33, who lives opposite the store, said: "Mick is really popular. He's a real character and will be very sorely missed. We wish him a very happy retirement."

Villager Sarah Bond, 42, said: "Mick is a wonderful chap. He's very helpful and he's got a wonderful sense of humour. The shop is the centre of the village and he knows everyone."

Bernard Pottle, 78, of Denman's Lane, Cumnor, said: "Mick's been a wonderful servant to the community."