A Malpas High Street shop has a new local business occupant thanks to the help of one of the village's most well-known businessmen.

Morgan Granger and her partner Alex Glover have moved their businesses – Morgans Estate Services and BuildscapeUK – into the former Barlows shop in High Street.

The two business were able to occupy the former Barlows shop after a decision was taken to not reopen the shop post-lockdown.

Morgan says she was contact by David Barlow – with who she had worked with for many years – about establishing her own business within the premises.

Morgan says she was surprised to receive the call from David.

"Morgans Estate Services has worked with Barlows for a number of years as we provide their commercial cleaning contract for the offices at Hampton," said Morgan.

"When the shop shut down because of lockdown we fully expected it to reopen, but as time went on and other businesses had reopened it became apparent that possibly the shop was not going to.

"After making initial enquiries and not really getting anywhere over a number of months I was really surprised to receive a phone call from David to invite us to come and look at the property.

"We thought that we were on a hiding to nothing as there was an awful lot of interest in the property even from big chains.

"We viewed the property, and while my partner and co-director Alex of BuildscapeUK was very laid back, I was absolutely adamant that we had found the perfect spot for our new offices

"I had said approximately three years ago that one day I would have that building as an office and Alex basically thought I had gone mad.

"What more could we ask for than a high street location in our local community."

After months of preparing the shop, Morgan opened for the first time on April 19.

Morgan also thanked David and Ann Barlow for their help in setting up the business.

"We eventually got the keys after nearly annoying everyone with our persistence in January and we have been working exceptionally hard at weekends and evening since to get ready for opening.

"The office has had a major facelift both inside and out and boasts a beautiful country feel, the woodwork outside and internally has been painted in Morgans Estate Services blue and grey.

"None of this would of been possible without the help of David and Ann Barlow who have been steadfast in their support of what we are trying to achieve, we are so thankful to them for all of their help and encouragement.

"We are very lucky that they wanted to rent the building to us as our businesses have strikingly similar family values."