A stall in Watford Market will close for business for the last time this month, despite making record sales for almost 40 years.

John and Janet Lang, from Berkhamsted, have run J and J Records together for almost as long as they have been married.

But now, in their 38th year of trading, the Langs will pack up their stall in Charter Place for the last time.

Mr Lang, 65, said: “It started as a hobby, buying records for my own collection but it turned into a business. We used to run a mail order service for singles but you can't get them any more.

“We set up shop in the old market, behind Cordell's, it was open air but with a green glass roof. We were there for three months before it shut and then we moved here.

“George Michael used to come by and buy records, as did Watford celebrity Fred Housego, the black cab driver who won Mastermind, and Margaret Thatcher visited once when she was canvassing.”

The Langs, who have been married for 45 years, are planning to travel in their retirement, visiting the USA for three weeks and then Australia for two months.

Mr Lang added: “The secret of our success is that we specialise in old stuff, movies, CDs and records. Here you can find stuff you won't get in the supermarket. I once sold a rare Elvis record for £700, which I bought at an auction, and another classical music record for £600.

“There's something about owning a record, it's like having a nice book, people collect them for their music and also the artwork.”

Mr and Mrs Lang wanted to thank the a crowd of regular and occasional customers, most of whom were still leafing through the rows of vinyl records, CDs and DVDs today, before the stall closes for good on Saturday, May 15.

Mr Lang said: “Online music and supermarkets have killed this business, people used to come to markets like this to get something cheap.

“People say vinyl is coming back, but it's always been here. Unfortunately it's too late now, there won't be anywhere left for people to go. We're virtually the last man standing in 20 miles, the rest have gone out of business or retired as well.

“I ordered a DVD of Foyle's War off the internet the other week, the delivery was free and took a day. We can't compete with that.

“This is going to be another empty stall at Watford Market, there's nothing anyone can do about it.”