Ref. 74296-3THE future is bright for Swindon bohemians.

A popular clothing shop with two decades of trading behind it looked consigned to history after its owner sold up.

But the shop has been saved by customer Sally Jones, who had been going to the Rockin' Emporium store on Victoria Road for two years.

Sally, who lives near Marlborough, bought up the remaining stock and had hoped to relocate the shop and reopen by the end of November. But Sally had a disagreement with the landlord of the proposed new site in Morley Street just a day before opening on December 4.

Undeterred, she pressed ahead and secured a unit in the Big Top indoor market instead.

She said: "The people at the indoor market couldn't have done more to help us settle in."

To keep the spirit of the Emporium alive, Sally named it Sgt Peppers after the original shop's costume hire section. Since opening on December 18, the revamped shop has received an enthusiastic reception from customers.

Sally has retained the vintage clothing of the Rockin' Emporium but has also brought in fresh ranges including punk and "emo" (emotional) band T-shirts.

"I am pleased to be carrying on the two decades of trading by Rockin' Emporium founder Brian McVeigh," she said. Brian decided to become a school assistant and closed his doors for the last time in late October forcing people to travel to Camden to satisfy their nostalgia needs.

Sally said: "I've had loads of customers who loved the old shop come back. They are grateful they don't have to travel far to get their hands on the 70s gear.

"The new shop has been so successful that we are already thinking of expanding."