A FAMILY firm is expanding its business to the borough after tasting success with vintage sweet shops.

Andy Dickinson opened the first Grandad Jim's Traditional Sweet Shoppe in Leyland in 2012 but has since expanded to Chorley and is now moving into Horwich.

His store, which is named after his own grandfather, sells a range of tasty treats from old-fashioned favourites to new sugary surprises.

The venture is very much a family affair, with Mr Dickinson's wife Kat and father Tony helping to run the business and the couple's children working in the other stores.

The idea was born when the 35-year-old decided to leave his job and pursue something different.

"I've always been into old-fashioned things and one day I decided leave my job and do something of my own," Mr Dickson explained.

"I wanted to be in a job where people smiling and happy. Where I worked before I came in on a Monday morning and it was all miserable faces but not 99 percent of the people that come in here are smiling."

Grandad Jim's has been a hit on social media, with more than 23,000 people liking the original Leyland Facebook page, which features regular pictures of the sweet treats on sale and competitions to win prizes.

Mr Dickinson said he chose the town because it is filled with similar businesses.

He said: "I have always wanted to move to Horwich. It's an old-fashioned town and it has the kind of shops we want. It's full of local businesses and independent shops."

The shop's grand opening takes place today at 10am.