A family business which has been selling and repairing bicycles in Oxford for nearly a century is soon to serve its last customer.

GH Williams, in London Road, Headington, will close next month after keeping the wheels turning for cyclists since 1908.

The family are clearing out the shop and have already discovered a wealth of sentimental relics, including a 30-year-old firework, a child's wooden top toy and a tin stuffed with pen nibs.

Eldest son George, known as Keith, has travelled from New Zealand to help his 95-year-old father George, brother Bob and sister Anne.

He said: "I worked out there's about 98 years of history in here and some of the parts are almost that old as well."

With old three-speed bikes, 1970s Chopper saddles and 20-year-old tyres that are in better shape than many modern ones, dealers have come from all over the country to pick up bargains.

One happy customer found a pair of mudguards for a Raleigh Wisp, which a friend in Australia had been searching high and low for.

The business started life across the road, on the corner of Holyoake Road, when it was set up by Bob and Keith's grandfather, also called George, and sold china, toys, sweets, fruit, and bicycles.

When the family moved to the current shop in 1955, they kept the sweets and always had a rack of chocolate bars - much to the confusion of new customers expecting only inner tubes.

As the family prepare to close the current premises, they have also seen the old shop demolished to make way for apartments.

Keith, 67, said: "In a way, it's sad to see the business close, but what hit me most is the old building going, because I was a child there and I grew up there."

His father, who stopped working only five years ago, added: "It's a shame, it was such a well-built place. I never thought I should see it go up and then smashed down again like that."

The business is closing because his 60-year-old son Bob has decided to retire. Competition from the bigger stores, parking restrictions and fewer cyclists have also all had an effect.

He said: "I wanted to retire when I was 60 and I was 60 last year. I just want more time to myself, to go for long walks and take the dog out.

"I'm going to semi-retire, but I hope to still do some repairs and keep my hand in."

Bob added: "He has devoted his life to fixing bikes. He used to be fetched from school, at St Andrew's down the road, to go and fix a bike."

* Anyone interested in new, old and rare bicycle parts should call the shop on 01865 762664.