A convenience shop in Glastonbury has changed hands after nearly two decades of community service by its owners.

The Corner Stores, on Northload Street near the town centre, has been sold to new proprietors as Diane and Steve Moody step back to retire and spend more time with family.

Diane and Steve Moody, who ran The Corner Store for 18 years, said the decision came after watching a generation of local children grow up while they tended the shop.

"After serving our local community for so long, and seeing children in the area grow up and move forward with their lives, we wanted to turn more of our attention toward our own family," the Moodys said in a joint statement.

"We can now enjoy the freedom of not being tied to running the business so we can spend more time with our grandchildren and enjoy their accomplishments in life with them."

The store has been sold to Ragavan and Prashalina Tharmakulasingam, a pair of experienced shopkeepers who already own other local stores.

The new owners expressed excitement about taking over the well-known corner shop and have plans to increase the product lines, rebrand the store, and refurbish the premises to give it a fresh look while continuing to serve its loyal customers.

"I am very excited to be taking over The Corner Stores. It is a wonderful shop that has been long established in the local area, with loyal customers," said Ragavan, one of the new owners. "I am planning to enhance the store's offering and increase product lines so that we have a much wider range of products and choice for our customers."

Matt McFarlane, the Christie & Co business agent who handled the sale, praised the Moodys' role in the community and the capabilities of the new owners. "This store has been at the heart of the local community for many years," Mr McFarlane said.

"Diane and Steve have done a great job and have been an intrinsic part of the community. I wanted to ensure the store was handed over to a great buyer – which we have in Ragavan and Prashalina – who will continue the great work Diane and Steve have done, whilst further enhancing the business and taking the store into the future for many years to come."

The sale of The Corner Store was agreed at an asking price of £380,000, according to Christie & Co. The Moodys say they are grateful for the community's support over the years, and local residents can look forward to seeing their neighborhood shop enter a new era under its enthusiastic new owners.