A LONG serving shoe mender is set to call time on his business.

Len Ellis has run Len's Shoe Repairs in South Woodford High Road for 35 years.

The 71-year-old said he was 15-years-old when he started doing shoe repairs and he had five years training with shoe makers Lilley and Skinner before opening his own shop.

He said: "I was no good at school. I enjoyed metal work and carpentry because they were with my hands but I wanted to leave.

"A teacher said I would be good at repairing shoes. I joined Lilley and Skinner and it was a huge factory the size of a supermarket, it's where all their shoes would go.

"It took five years because it's a proper trade, you did an apprenticeship before working in the factory with all the men."

Mr Ellis took over the shop in South Woodford from another cobbler, who he remembers as Mr Thomas.

He said: "He was well known and had been there a long time. People said I was not as nice but now they don't want me to leave."

Mr Ellis said he used to work all day six days a week, without a break for lunch.

For the past 10 years he has worked five days as he works Saturdays but has Thursdays off to look after his grandchildren, he has five.

Mr Ellis, who has a son and a daughter, trained his son Adam as a cobbler but the 36-year-old decided not to take on the business and runs his own car valeting firm.

Mr Ellis, of Goffs Oak in Hertfordshire, said his favourite type of shoe is a man's lace up brogue.

He said: "I don't mind wearing a pair of them and they are a nice shoe to work on, you can do a good job on them."

Over the years Mr Ellis has worked on all sorts of shoes and he says some come to him falling to pieces but people can't part with them, sometimes for sentimental reasons.

He said he once fixed a pair of £650 designer boots and he used to regularly fix the shoes of Ernest Maxin, producer, director and choreographer of the Morecambe and Wise Show.

Mr Ellis, who has been married to his wife Val for 48 years, said the lease on his shop was due to run out next year and a businessman is set to buy it off him and renew the lease.

The shop is due to become a small supermarket in the next month or so, although Mr Ellis doesn't have an exact date for when he will leave.

Cengiz Karatas is set to take over and the premises is due to be called Woody Supermarket.

Mr Ellis said: "He seems a nice bloke, a family man and I'm sure he'll do well."

Mr Karatas has applied to Redbridge Council for a licence to sell alcohol to be consumed off the premises.

The application is to sell alcohol between 8am and 12am Sunday to Thursday and between 8am and 2am on a Friday and Saturday.

Mr Ellis, who is off to Florida for three weeks when he leaves his craft behind, said he will continue to work, helping his son out and possibly as a handyman.

Humble Mr Ellis said he wanted to thank all his "loyal and friendly customers for all their support over the years".

He said he has received bottles of wine, cards and £20 tips as a send off.

He said: "I will miss the customers and I will be quite upset when I go."