IT IS the end of an era for one of the town’s oldest manufacturing companies.

Minety Fencing And Sheds will close its Swindon manufacturing and retail operations this December after 27 years of trading due to financial pressures.

The store in Barnfield Road, has been hit hard by the recession and will close its doors for the last time after its closing down sale.

The closure of the store, which was one of the largest and most successful fencing and garden building manufacturers in the south west and boasts the largest display of timber garden products in the area, including more than 70 display buildings, will see the loss of seven jobs.

The general manager, Neil Lapworth, said: “It has been a very difficult decision to make.

“The market for quality timber products has been steadily shrinking since the recession first took hold in 2008.

“This, coupled with a 50 per cent increase in the cost of timber over the past two years and the rising overheads, has created a perfect storm of events from which few companies of our size can survive.

“As a small manufacturer we have clearly been one of the hardest hit and, despite our best efforts to cut overheads and restructure our operations, the business is unfortunately no longer viable in the current economic climate.

“We would like to thank all of our loyal customers and excellent staff who have contributed to the success of the company since 1983.”

The company sells everything made from wood – including sheds, decking and playhouses.

The news comes only a year after Swindon was been named as one of the leading growth hotspots in the UK for new home-based businesses, according to BT research.

The Minety closing down clearance sale started on Tuesday, November 9.