WIVELISCOMBE residents came together to throw a farewell bash for a local business owner who has spent more than three decades on the High Street.

Alison McKinley is stepping away from the Carousel Pig, which she has run since 1989 as an emporium selling jewellery, clothing, cushions and an assortment of knick knacks.

Ms McKinley was surprised by locals in the White Hart pub, where she was presented with an engraved vase, flowers and a cake.

The town centre shop is being bought by Ali Kennen, a local author, who will be running it as a bookshop.

Ms McKinley's retirement comes after a delay to her plans to move on last summer when a planned sale of the shop fell through.

While Ms McKinley is stepping away from full-time work, she will continue to sell her wares at The Emporium in Wellington, in-between getting away to her favourite 'exotic locales' in Africa and India with her husband for holidays.