IT'S the end of an era for one Wadebridge family business that has been sold after more than 50 years of trading.

Mike and Diane Tregoning of J C Tregoning & Son, the Wadebridge Ford dealership that is located on the new Tollgate Roundabout on the outskirts of Wadebridge, next to the Royal Cornwall Showground, have decided to sell.

The family business has been in the ownership of the Tregoning family since the late John Charles Tregoning started it way back in 1945, and is the longest established Ford retail dealer in Cornwall.

Mike's father died suddenly in April 1970 and at the age of 24, Mike and his late mother continued to run and grow the business until Mrs Tregoning died in 1986.

In 1988, Mike's wife Diane sold her family business and joined forces with her husband to expand the business into Wadebridge.

In 2001 Tregoning's acquired the very prominent Bryan Bros business at West Hill and expanded it into one of Cornwall's premier motor businesses of the current day.

Mr Tregoning said: "My wife and I thought the time is now right for us to retire while we are still fit and well enough to enjoy our retirement."

Mr Tregoning's sister, Mrs Margaret Pedler, has also now retired from the business where she held the position as head of the office accounts team for some 30 years.

The complete business at Wadebridge has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by a management buyout team from within the business.

The team of five senior management has formed a new company, Tregoning Ltd, and will use the trading title Tregoning Ford.

The Tregoning family's Padstow Garage body repair business has been acquired by Adrenaline Motorsport, the exotic kit car manufacturer based in St Columb, which now produces the Subaru Impresa-based Murtaya four-wheel drive sports car.

They will be operating the business in much the same way as before the takeover, providing many local customers with high quality and good value repair options, as well as a custom car and motorcycle specialist paintwork department.

Mr Tregoning said: "There were numerous options open to us to sell and dispose of our family business, but we felt this was by far the best route to secure the jobs of our longstanding employees into the future.

"I would also like record my thanks to the many hundreds of customers from across the South West who have been so loyal to our family business over several decades.

"I will no doubt miss the family atmosphere and friendship of so many customers who have become firm friends throughout my time in the business."