Gretna Bakery has been sold for an undisclosed sum.

The business, which employs 28 staff, has been run by Nick and Janice Stewardson since 1984.

The sale went through on April 11, although Mr Stewardson is staying on for a transitional period.

The Gretna name will remain with the business and all premises and staff are being retained.

Gretna Bakery has four shops, on Lowther Street and Scotland Road in Carlisle, High Street in Longtown, and Central Avenue, Gretna, where the bakery is also situated.

Mr Stewardson, 59, said: “Nobody goes on forever. Our children don’t want to take it on, they have their own careers.

“I needed to think about the future of the business and the staff as well as mine and my wife’s. It was time.

“I would like to thank our staff and customers for their service and dedication over the years. Without that, Gretna Bakery would not be the successful business it is today.”

The purchaser, Hills of Lakeland, is a successful local garage business.

The garages all have retail outlets, which sell bakery products.

Hills of Lakeland director Michael Colin said: “We have been working with both Nick and Janice to ensure that with the management and planning in place it will be business as usual.

“Things will stay just as they are for the moment but in the future we may look at developing the business.

“We have 12 petrol stations and we were looking for a business that was a good match for the shops we have in them.”