FOREST Bookshop is on the market after its founder and owner of 37 years announced his retirement.

Since 1977, Doug McLean has built up an award-winning community bookshop in Coleford by becoming an essential cultural and literary centre for the Forest of Dean.

However after 58 years in the book trade, the 73-year-old from Newnham said 'it really is time I hung up my bookselling boots.'

"The bookshop has always prided itself on serving our loyal customers with hand-selected titles and a warm, friendly atmosphere," he said. "We currently run a busy schedule of literary events, such as book-signings, author-talks, concerts and host a regular book group."

Although Doug says it's still very much business as usual until he can find a buyer for his £170,000 shop, which includes the whole property and the business, plus existing stock.

He said: "I don't plan to retire until I've found a buyer. I don't have any immediate plans when I do retire just to enjoy reading books as opposed to selling them. I have worked in book selling from the age of 15, then had a spell in publishing, and went back to selling.

"I would be delighted if I could find a buyer, or a consortium of buyers, who would be able to take the shop on with the commitment to develop its potential and take the bookshop forward.

"Given the challenge of the current economic climate this project demands enthusiasm, vision and investment, but is an opportunity to keep and develop this established, well-loved cultural resource, and bookselling and publishing service in the Forest of Dean, for the Forest of Dean."