A WALTHAMSTOW DIY shop has turned 60.

Colvins Ltd., in Wood Street, was opened on June 15, 1949, by William Colvin.

Mr Colvin emigrated to Australia in 1972 and current owners Susan and Peter Aley officially took over the shop ten years later.

The shop is now staffed by four members of the same family – Mr Aley, 61, who was born above the shop, Mrs Aley, 59, her brother, Stephen Knowles, 50 and her niece Joanne Berry, 34.

And while Mrs Berry is on maternity leave, another family member – Mrs Aley's cousin, Sarah McNamara, 43 – is filling in.

Mrs Aley said: “It wasn't a family business when Mr Colvin owned it but it became a family business.

“We decided to keep the name because we thought people would think there were new people there. Nothing changed apart from the ownership.”