A LONG-STANDING Hexham newsagents is shutting down and merging with its sister business in the town.

Cookes News will close this Saturday (January 28) after its owner, Ian Hunter, director of Cookes & Peggs Newsagents, sold the building in Meal Market where it has long sat.

It will now merge with sister newsagent Peggs News. All staff members who worked at Cookes will move to the Priestpopple shop.

Peggs News offers all the services Cookes did, plus more product lines and a wider magazine and newspaper range. It is already open for longer hours, from 6am until 8pm seven days a week.

Hexham Courant:

Ian Hunter, director of the businesses, said he believes the move makes “huge sense”.

“We are basically moving it all into one shop,” he said.

“I think with the way retail is going, it is a very positive move for the company.

“Peggs is a very busy shop to start with and I think this will just make it even busier. And busy shops are nice to see!

“We are all looking forward to seeing our Meal Market customers at Priestpopple.”

Both newsagents have been at the heart of Hexham town centre for generations.

While they were originally independent businesses, they have been working in tandem since the 1990s.

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Ian took over Cookes back in 1994, and then got the keys for Peggs four years later.

For the most part, business will continue as normal after the merger.

The only small change, Ian said, is that those who paid their paper bill at Cookes will now have to do this at Peggs.

All of their team of deliverers have already worked solely from Peggs for the last 15 years.

Peggs News is a premier delivery partner of the Hexham Courant, delivering to homes throughout Hexham and Acomb. To save 20 per cent on your copy and have it delivered to your door each week call 01228 612625.