THE owner of a family-run toy shop in Welling says she is ‘devastated’ it is closing down after more than 40 years in the business.

Boss Jean Ray, 72, took charge at Nuxley Toys in Bellegrove Road during the 1970s but increasing costs have forced her to close the doors of the store she considers her favourite.

Just the Nuxley Toys shop in Gravesend now survives, with stores once existing in Bexleyheath and Belvedere too.

Mrs Ray, who lives in Crockenhill near Swanley, said: “It’s heart-breaking because out of all the shops we’ve had, the Welling one seems to be nicest and is my favourite.

“The customers have been so nice and have come in and shook our hands and given us a cuddle and have said it’s so sad we are closing.

“They asked ‘where am I going to get my toys from now?’”

Four long-term staff members will be redundant when the shop shuts on March 10, one of whom has been working there for 30 years.

Although the family is saddened by the closing of the shop - named after Nuxley Road in Belvedere where the first store opened - a number of different reasons are behind the decision.

Mrs Ray’s son Richard, 45, who works in the Gravesend store said: “We can’t keep spending.

“Rates and rent keep going up and nobody is doing any better than anyone else in this industry.

“We now sell more traditional games and lots of jigsaw puzzles, which we also sell on our eBay online shop - we have got to reach out and do whatever we can.”

The popularity of games consoles among youngsters is also blamed for the decline in demand for traditional toys.

Looking back over the years, Jean and Richard both agree Star Wars was the most popular product the shop sold due to its longevity.

Mrs Ray added: “Another popular one was a football-based game called Super Striker.

“We had a delivery at 8am one morning and it was sold out completely by lunchtime.”

Do you have fond memories of Nuxley Toys across the years? Email awoods@london.newsquest.co.uk.

Top toys across the years. Do you remember?

Hornby model railways: 1920 - present

Revell model kits: 1943 - 2006

Scalextric sets: 1957 - present

Barbie dolls: 1959 - present

Action Man: 1966 - present

Star Wars action figures: 1977

Subbuteo: 1978 - 1994

Care Bears: 1981 - 2011

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: 1984 - present

Power Rangers: 1993 - present

Top Trumps: 1999 relaunch – present