A LUXURY coach company has ceased trading for the last time after taking people on excursions for the past 63 years.

But all is not lost as West's Coaches has been taken over by rival company Dan's Luxury Travel, of Maybank Road, South Woodford.

Bob West, 70, has decided to call it a day running the business his dad Leslie started in 1949.

He said: "I don't really want to retire, but it's got to the point where I can't carry on forever."

Dan Brown, 62, owner of Dan's Luxury Travel worked with Mr West in the early 70s when he was setting up his own business.

Mr West added: "Dan has been keen to take over for a number of years now, it made sense to merge our companies.

"What I loved most about the job was that I wasn't at home.

"I'm not in the right frame of mind to put my feet up at the moment though."

Mr Brown took over the company on November 1 after first enquiring about his rival's retirement four years ago.

He said: "I said to him 'when are you going to retire? You've been doing this far too long' and now he has finally retired.

"This is a fantastic take over for us and it is a fabulous business to work in."

Taking over West's Coaches means Mr Brown has added an additional 15 coaches to his fleet of 25.

Mr West will still play an active role in the company and visits the depot on a daily basis to keep an eye on things.