Popular Wakefield bookshop will reopen after coronavirus pandemic is over

Rickaro Books on High Street announced it would close in January with the business to move online, though owners Richard and Carole Knowles hoped it would be taken over and remain a bookshop.

And after an appeal in the Express for a new custodian Asher Woolford and Laura Iveson stepped up to take the reins.

Although things didn't go quite as expected, as the coronivirus and subsequent lockdown took hold, Asher said they had been lucky.

She said: "The week before we opened we were a bit on the fence about whether or not we should open the physical shop. Then the following Tuesday the lockdown came in and the decision was out of our hands.

"We feel quite fortunate because a lot of business have had to shut down and don't know when they will be opened again.

"But when the time comes we'll be ready to open the shop. We're in a good position."

The business, named Darling Reads, has been sending orders made online but a temporary closure at their distribution centre meant orders now had to be put on hold.

Asher said: "We're sorry that we can't deliver books at the moment. Books are a gateway to another world and a good distraction especially at a time like this.

"We've had lots of support which has been really lovely. People are so happy that the bookshop will still be there. There are so few in towns these days and it's one of those thing you don't understand how important it is until it's gone."