READ all about it! A popular Newport newsagent is passing on his trade to one of his customers after 25 years in the business.

Ken Bullock, who has been battling cancer, retired on Saturday after running the Ideal store on Caerleon Road for the last quarter of a century.

Mr Bullock, 71, has sold the business to customer and builder Gareth Williams who officially took over on Sunday.

But the business is still being kept in the family with Mr Bullock's daughter Helen continuing to work there part-time.

Mr Bullock took on the newsagents shortly after being made redundant from working in a warehouse.

He said: "I was out of work at the time and we jumped in feet first."

He said business was very good in the beginning.

But added: "With supermarkets and things like that it's not as good as it used to be. But we've got lots of regular customers."

Mr Bullock has employed three or four part-time staff over the years and wife Marilyn also worked there for a time.

But Mr Bullock said he found things hard when returning to work after an operation for prostate cancer in January.

He said he now gets tired quickly and lacks the energy he used to have.

"I thought I'd have been here till my last days but it wasn't to be."

He said the operation "put the cancer to bed" but still has to have regular check ups.

Mr and Mrs Bullock have lived above the shop for nearly 25 years and will start to look for somewhere new to live.

He said he and his wife both enjoy reading and walking and may get a dog.

He said it has also been a dream of his to learn how to dance which he wants to do now.

Mr Bullock said he has had many cards from customers wishing him well and celebrated his retirement with a meal out on Tuesday with his wife.