A Bolton bakery which has been a 'part of the community' has closed its doors for the last time.

Greg Coop took over Allen's in Breightmet in 2006.

Since then he has risen at 3am on most days to prepare the bread and open up to customers.

But now due to the cost of living crisis he has opted to retire.

The property on Bury Road was put on the market in the hope that it could be kept going as a bakery, but no buyers have yet come forward.

Mr Coop explained how he rode out the financial crash of 2008, Covid, but felt he could no longer keep going with rising costs and more competition elsewhere.

He said: “When we took over it was a good business.

“We expanded the range of what we had at the time.

“The crash in 2008 things went downhill, people had less confidence."

He added: “We were very much part of the community.

“We have had a lot of good comments on Facebook saying sorry to see you go.

“We were the last real one in the area.”

He added: “There is lots of competition, there is a Greggs  down the road and supermarkets are doing a lot of similar type of things.”

Mr Coop said he opted to shut down twice during Covid to stop the spread of the virus and encouraged people to wear a mask in the store when it reopened.

But he said it was the cost of living this year which has prompted him to call it a day.

He said: “The cost of what we buy is soaring.

“We can’t pass costs on to the customer, they are looking for a bargain or they will go to Morrisons for a meal deal.

“We have had it on the market this year since January, there is nobody interested.

“I have been getting up at 3am to make the bread, to make the whole thing work.

“It needs a baker, it is a dying breed.”

But he stressed he had enjoyed the job.

He said: “We have really enjoyed serving our customers in the community.”

Mr Coop said he has no real plans for retirement but plans to do some work on his garden and get back into cycling.