A garden centre boss has shook hands on a deal to sell to a new family-run firm and retire after 41 years running the business.

Terry Burch first set up the Bybrook Barn Garden Centre off Canterbury Road in 1975, and from there the business has grown and expanded.

In 1989 he moved the business out of the original Bybrook Barn, which is now a Harvester restaurant, and set up a larger business across the road in Cemetery Lane.

But now in his 80s, Mr Burch decided it was time to retire, and entered into talks with the Longacres Garden Centre group in Surrey.

Last week Longacres boss Nigel Long agreed the takeover and has announced ambitious plans to transform Bybrook Barn into the best garden centre in Kent.

His plans include creating a new floristry service with a refrigerated cut flower shop, a family restaurant, and a click and collect online service for customers.

Mr Burch said: “Bybrook Barn has been my life’s work and selling the business has been a hard decision, but I am delighted to be passing it on to another family business.

“The Long family have made an amazing success of Longacres and I hope that, with their energy and foresight, they will take Bybrook Barn forward to new levels.”

The centre currently employ 27 staff members who will be kept by the new buyers, and there are also plans for expansion which could see new jobs being created.

The Longacres group runs three garden centres in Surrey, with its flagship store in Bagshot which boasts being the number one centre in the UK for the last seven years.

The company is run by Nigel Long along with his sisters Carol and Julie, and his parents Peter and Mary who are still involved in the day-to-day running of their sites which they have also been running since the 1970s.

Mr Long said: “We are very excited to have bought Bybrook Barn and look forward to continuing Terry’s good work.

“In retail terms we are now looking ahead to Christmas and have exciting plans to bring festive magic to Ashford later this year.”

He added that the garden centre will keep its links with local schools and community groups. For more information about the company visit www.longacres.co.uk.