A COUPLE who have patched-up and altered everything from bras to bedsheets for the people South Woodford, are celebrating 40 years in the same shop.

Veena and Sohan Rattan, who came to South Woodford from Kenya in 1969, still work from their first sewing machine in their original tailors shop at the bottom of George Lane.

Retired engineer Mr Rattan, 71, who was head of technology at Trinity Catholic High School for 14 years, said: “When we first moved to the area I loved it but my mother and father were complaining that there were no Indian shops.

“They thanked me for it afterwards though as we've been so welcomed here and have wonderful customers and neighbours.

“ Married 45 years ago, the grandparents-of-four have worked tirelessly from the tiny Nu-Fit-U kiosk in Station Approach, and even featured in the Guardian in 1994 when a car smashed through the shop's front window and missed Mrs Rattan by only inches.

Mrs Rattan, 63, said: “We have never advertised but we have more customers now than ever as the credit crunch has encouraged people to get everything from their bras to their bedsheets fixed.

“We have really loyal customers and sometimes people just come in for a cup of tea and a chat.”

Mr Rattan - whose father whipped-up outfits for Princess Elizabeth in 1952 when she turned up in Kenya in unsuitable attire - said his family have witnessed countless changes in George Lane.

He said: “When we first came here it was like a little village with everyone walking around with shopping baskets.

“There was a church and a cinema and a fish mongers.

“It's all changed now but we still know most of the people on the road.

“We don't keep ourselves to ourselves.”