A MUCH-LOVED local family business is moving to smaller premises after more than 40 years of trading.

Fisher Trucks in Gourock, run by brothers John and Neil Fisher, has served thousands of customers over the years from the garage in Cardwell Road.

The pair are making way for a new £700k Co-op convenience store to be built on the site.

John, 59, said: "We were approached by a developer and we received an offer we couldn't refuse.

"It's come at a good time."

The brothers specialise in van hire, repairs and sales and have helped countless Inverclyde families move house.

Now it is their turn to move and they are also downsizing by closing the popular rental side of the company to concentrate on repairs and sales.

John said: "Lockdown hasn't helped.

"We've stopped doing van hire, but we are focusing on repairs and sales in the future.

"We're looking for smaller premises."

The family hail from Dunoon but have been in Gourock so long feel they are Gourockians.

Neil and John have run Fisher Trucks from the former bus garage in Cardwell Road since the sudden death of their father Duncan in 1993.

The firm is well known for its friendly, personal service and many customers have become friends over the years.

John said: "We had Scout groups hiring minibuses for summer camp and some of them are now in their fifties and have become friends ever since.

"Our vans were used on everything from trips to the dump to charity missions to Romania.

"I have a wall of signed celebrity photos from one customer who as a roadie supported everyone from Sharleen Spiteri of Texas to The Lighthouse Family."

John believes they have managed to trade successfully for so long because of their dedicated staff, who worked tirelessly to make the firm a household name.

He said: "Our success was down to the enthusiasm and dedication of the staff, from young trainee apprentices - many who went on to run their own businesses - to Morag our administrator who was with us for 35 years.

"We also as a family want to thank all our customers and friends for all the happy memories made."

The business is very much a family affair, with mum Sheena playing a part in the company her late husband founded.

John said: "I will be in trouble if I don't mention our mum Sheena, who still has an active role now at the youthful age of 86."

The pair have witnessed many changes over the last four decades, such as advances in technology.

John said: "The main change in the workshop is the fact that you can use diagnostics that plug into the brain of the vehicle to find a fault and instead of listening by ear to find the problem."

In its heyday the firm employed 12 members of staff but this is now down to three and the number of vans has fallen to 12.

Neil, 55, looked after all the maintenance and servicing needs of the 40-strong fleet for 35 years.

He said: "I reckon the vans have covered an average 12,000 miles a year which is, roughly, 30 return trips to the moon."

Neil who started as an apprentice 39 years ago, said: "It is hard to leave somewhere with so many happy memories, but we are not getting any younger and it's time to take things a little easier.

"John has a passion for motorbikes and I love motor racing and classic cars, so we both hope to spend more time on our hobbies, while continuing to serve a loyal customer base with commercial vehicle sales and service in a new location nearby."