Dumfriesshire-based Gretna Bakery has been sold for an undisclosed sum to garage business Hills of Lakeland.

As reported by the Cumbria-based News and Star, the bakery runs four shops in Gretna and Carlisle and employs 28 staff. The name will stay the same and all the shops and staff will be retained.

Hills of Lakeland is a local garage business which currently runs 12 sites. Each has a retail outlet which sells baked goods.

Nick Stewardson, co-owner of the bakery, said: “Nobody goes on forever. Our children don’t want to take it on, they have their own careers. I needed to think about the future of the business and the staff as well as mine and my wife’s. It was time.

“I would like to thank our staff and customers for their service and dedication over the years. Without that, Gretna Bakery would not be the successful business it is today.”

Hills of Lakeland said the sale has been managed to ensure business at the bakery carried on as usual, and Stewardson is reported to be staying on for a transitional period.

Michael Colin, director at Hills of Lakeland, said: “Things will stay just as they are for the moment, but in the future we may look at developing the business.

“We have 12 petrol stations and we were looking for a business that was a good match for the shops we have in them.”