A MUCH-LOVED ice cream shop is changing hands after its previous owner announced she is moving on.

Hadi Brooks, who set up popular Rays Ice Cream 11 years ago, has decided she wants to focus on her family and mentoring business. 

But she reassured loyal customers in Old Town that they wouldn't notice the difference when the new local owners take over.

"Nothing's changing!" she wrote in a Facebook post

"Your ice cream will still be made by the same people and served by the same people.

"The way you place orders and book events will not change."

Swindon Advertiser:

The award-winning Devizes Road shop has become a Swindon staple with its home made ice cream, low fat frozen yoghurt and sorbet. 

It is not known who the new owners are as Mrs Brooks believes they should introduce themselves when they're ready.

Sharing her mixed emotions about the decision, she said: "I am happy, excited, sad, nostalgic, proud, apprehensive - in fact, most of the emotions - to let you know that I have sold Rays Ice Cream

"The important part for you lovely lot is that the new owners are amazing local people, who love the brand, and intend to continue with more of the same.

"I'm so proud of all of our achievements over the last 11 years. I have met so many wonderful people - my team and customers, many of whom I'm happy to now call my friends.

"It's been a great journey and I have learnt so much along the way."

Well-wishers have flocked to Facebook to congratulate Mrs Brooks and thank her for founding the popular business.

Swindon Advertiser:

She will now focus on her mentoring venture My Business Buddy.

Rays Ice Cream has sold around 200 flavours of ice cream.

The business also has an online shop where people can order ice cream cakes and cheesecakes.

Signing off, she wrote: "Thank you all so much, I truly mean that, I couldn't have done it without such wonderful people supporting me and the brand I have built.

"Love you Old Town, you're fab!"

Hadi and Dan Brooks opened their shop in 2011 after noticing a gap in the market for an ice cream café.

In a post last year, Mrs Brooks indicated she was preparing to step aside.

“I’m a mum and a wife and am finding that as the mentoring takes off, I have less and less time, though I am loving helping other small business owners. Therefore, it’s time to make a choice."