A NEW Forest town centre shop has been saved from the axe.

Crystals, a hardware store in Lymington, shut down in March when Ken and Ann Crowe retired after 15 years.

Now Helen and Gary Saunders, pictured, also from Lymington, have taken up the reins and Crystals has reopened.

The shop has moved further up St Thomas' Street but is still selling all the hardware it was famous for.

Helen, a former council employee and Gary, a former painter and decorator haven't run a shop before but they wanted a career change.

Helen said: "People are worried about all the shops closing in Lymington but we are here to stay and pleased to keep Crystals going."