The much-loved store is not closing for financial reasons and there is hope that someone will ‘come along and keep it going’.

A popular Hampshire toy shop, which has served customers for three decades, has announced it will close this week with the retirement of its two co-owners.

Toys of Ringwood in The Furlong shopping centre, owned by Peter Sargeant and Mike Holyoake, has been a much-loved shop for many generations of children.

Peter told the Bournemouth Echo: “We have enjoyed over 30 years at The Furlong shopping centre as the community toy shop. We have loved serving the people of Ringwood and seeing both new and old faces through the years. However, it is the right time for us to go and Mike and myself are looking forward to our retirement years.”

Marketing manager for The Furlong, Charlie Reed, said: “We will be sad to see the departure of one of our longest standing retailers. The Toy Shop has superbly served the children of Ringwood and our wider community for over three decades. We would like to wish Peter and Mike all the best for their upcoming retirement.”

Residents have taken to social media to thank the owners for serving them over the years and to share their memories.

One post said: “This has been a regular visit for us since having both our children and we are sad to see the shop closing. We’ve never come out empty handed”, while another wrote: “Such an amazing store. I remember the day many years ago I bought my daughter a Playmobil midwife and incubator from your store. My daughter is now in her final year of her midwifery degree. Such special memories of when I gave the set to her, thank you.”

Deputy mayor of Ringwood, Cllr Philip Day, told the Echo: “Toys of Ringwood really will be sadly missed. It was a regular port of call when my children were of a certain age. Ringwood without a toy shop, it almost doesn’t bear thinking about, the town will never be the same again. Children love going in and picking out their toy, it’s not the same buying them online. I do hope someone else comes along and keeps it going in some way.”