A WELL-known Keighley shop is celebrating a milestone.

H Brook DIY, in Lawkholme Lane, is marking its 60th anniversary.

A special celebratory event takes place at the shop on Friday, August 23.

The TV Dulux dog will be making an appearance, between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

There will be discounts for the day on a range of products, champagne, the chance for people to win their own cuddly Dulux dog and a room makeover, and freebies from suppliers.

Many former employees will be amongst the guests.

The business was founded by Howard Brook.

"Initially he purchased two properties on Lawkholme Lane in March 1964 and had made these into a DIY shop by the August – selling paint downstairs and wallpaper upstairs," says his grandson and current director, Andrew Brook.

"The initial opening created a bit of an issue with the decorating shops in Keighley. People who wanted their homes painted and decorated tended to go to 'paint' shops in the town, where they could employ a decorator – who would sell their own paint, most likely manufactured by hand onsite. My grandad decided he would buy paint direct from Dulux in London and sell it at a much lower price than what decorating paint shops were selling it for. Trips to London to buy the paint were not uncommon, and maybe not fully legitimate either, hence the fact he could sell at a lower price!

"Over the space of a few years he purchased a further four properties and gradually knocked them all through to create a much larger shop – with a fish and chip shop under one of the premises. He also subsidised the shop by selling paint on Wakefield market during the week.

"In 1986 a further property was bought and an extension built at the back of the shop. It was initially run by my aunt, Kathleen Brook, and then by my father Stuart Brook. I took over at the helm 10 years ago when my father retired."

Many of the cellars beneath the premises still contain remnants of the past, including old cooking ranges, wall hooks, stone sinks and gas mantels.

The business now employs six full-time staff, plus five part-time weekend employees.

"We are proud to be celebrating this anniversary – there can’t be many independent shops in Keighley with a history of being open for 60 years and still going strong," Andrew adds.