TRIBUTES have been paid to the family of a local community Home and Garden store which has reopened its doors despite a bereavement.

Yusef and Anwar, known locally as Joe and Andy, were broken-hearted at the beginning of the week when announcing the death of brother Ilyas, known to customers as Jimmy.

They briefly closed the store 'Germons Home and Garden' at 1 Crammavill Street in Stifford Place.

Local residents and shoppers were quick to pay tribute on a quickly erected board of condolence at the store but the brothers surprised everyone by quickly getting their doors reopened and they are carrying on trading.

That has brought a flood of supporting comments on social media praising the family.

Among them Lorraine Garvey-Farrell says: "Hopefully we can support them by making sure we shop local. Such a lovely family," Nick Johnson says: "I popped in to buy some things today, they are very brave carrying on, despite obviously being broken-hearted over the passing of a dear brother' and Peter Jordan added: "Always helpful and cheerful a credit to the estate, such a sad loss. God bless them."