TWO brothers have retired after running a petrol station for more than 50 years.

Garage owners Chris and Peter Jones have said a special goodbye to their loyal customers after running the Jones of Chelmsford Garage, in Baddow Road, since 1958.

Six years ago, they also opened a supermarket there which has proved popular with the local community.

After 54 years, the two of them have decided to retire and last weekend, the garage was taken over by Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society, which is continuing to sell Texaco fuel.

While Peter looks forward to a rest and the birth of his new grandchild, Chris has already set up a new business in Cumbria.

As a parting gift to the local community, the two brothers donated £314 to Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.

This is on top of £555 the business has raised for the charity through raffles and collection tins over the years. Helen Rollason Cancer Charity supports people living with cancer through research, trials of new cancer treatments and an award-winning support centre in Springfield.

Chris said: “We want to say a very sincere thank you to our loyal customers and all of the people that we have worked with throughout the years.

“Cancer affects so many people so we thought that a donation to a local charity was a good way to give something back to the community.”

For more information on the charity, visit www.helenrollason.org.uk