Long before shopping trolleys, superstores and barcodes were even thought about, people in Southampton would stock up on their weekly shopping at places like Vernon and Tear in Above Bar.

Those were the days when bacon rashers were sliced at the counter while you waited, cheese was cut exactly to the size you wanted and food was wrapped in greaseproof paper or brown bags.

It was back in March, 1937 that John Vernon and Frederick Tear opened the shop in Southampton.

Just three years later enemy bombs rained down on the city and, along with many other premises, Vernon and Tears was destroyed. But the two men were determined to carry on.

Looking to the future, the partners came up with what was then the novel idea of incorporating all kinds of food, dry goods and dairy produce all under one roof.

With their slogon "The Premier Food Store of the South'', Vernon and Tear opened their Above Bar shop by the end of 1953, only a few yards from their old site.

The Daily Echo at the time said: "It has been an instant success and is certainly original in its conception, with refrigerated displays, careful blending of modern and traditional lighting, and hygienic conditions of storage and preparation."

However, in June 1966 the shop closed after pressure from large trading organisations who all wanted to acquire the prime city centre premises.

Vernon and Tear moved to a new shop in East Street while their former Above Bar shop was taken by Mothercare.