A POPULAR York hardware store which was put up for sale by its retiring owners was sold within 24 hours.

Pexton’s Hardware, of Bishopthorpe Road, was put on the market at the end of April by Johnny and Frankie Hayes, who ran the business for 13 years, and within 24 hours had found its new owners.

Young couple, Dan Ebdon and Claire Gilham, both customers and fans of the shop, made it their mission to become the new Mr and Mrs Pexton they said when they heard it was up for sale.

The shop was opened in 1933 by Mr Pexton and then run by his daughter before it was sold outside the family unit, Johnny said. But the name has been kept all these years with each new owner becoming known as Mr Pexton, almost like Dr Who, he said.

Dan said: “We look forward to joining the Bishy Road community of shop owners and would like to reassure Pexton’s customers that thanks to the existing staff, who are to continue, the show will go on.”

The new husband-and-wife team, who grew up in Holgate and in Scarcroft Road respectively, met in sixth form at All Saints’ School. After going to university, they lived in Norway for three years before moving back to their local community to raise a family. While in Norway, Dan worked first as a lumberjack and later in a hardware/ electrical shop, which, like Pexton’s, was a local hub for a wide range of interesting and loyal customers.

Dan has been working Saturdays at Pextons to gain experience and is looking forward to being in the shop full-time and meeting more of the regulars. The family are even moving into the flat above the shop while they learn the ropes.

Claire said: “I have been busy getting to grips with the behind the scenes aspects of running a shop, chasing after our 18-month-old son, Arthur, and knitting Dan an extra long scarf in readiness for his new Dr Who-like role.”

Frankie and Johnny continue to run Frankie and Johnny’s Cookshop in Bishopthorpe Road.