Bradford family-run toy store Toymaster, which first opened more than 70 years ago, marks the end of an era today when it is taken over by the Greens Superstores group.

Owner David Wiley, pictured, remembers people chasing delivery wagons down the streets of Bradford when they dropped off bicycles to his dad's shop shortly after the end of World War II.

Wiley's independent toy store, which first opened in Tong Street, Bradford, in 1928, and a year later moved to James Street, first sold bikes and radios. It started selling toys in the 1950s.

Mr Wiley, whose father Herbert and brother Percy started the company as a small bike shop 73 years ago, said he had seen many changes over the years.

He said: "At one point we had three shops in Bradford; Wiley's, David's in Sunbridge Road, which was named after me, and JB Smith's in Leeds Road. We also had shops in Leeds, Wakefield and Pontefract.

"We have a good relationship with our customers - people come in and say they bought their first such and such here when they were a child and now the same people are buying toys for their grandchildren.

"But the time has come for pastures new and I'm looking forward to putting my feet up, travelling and gardening."

Mr Wiley is retiring, and his daughter Suzanne, who has run the shop for the past five years since Mr Wiley took semi-retirement, is moving to the Midlands to be with her fiance.

"You would think being the daughter of a toyshop owner would mean you got all the latest toys but my dad made me appreciate the value of things and I had to do my chores to earn things," said Suzanne. "I remember one Christmas there was a Wiley's sticker on one of my presents and I thought 'Wow, Santa shops at my dad's shop'."

Mr Wiley recalled a number of popular toys over the years and said he took a bit of a gamble when he bulk-bought some Chopper bikes in the early 1970s.

"I saw them at a presentation in Leeds and I had a feeling they would be the next big thing so I took the risk. Looking back I did the right thing," he said.

Suzanne said one of the biggest toys of recent years were the Teletubbies in 1995. She said: "People were literally fighting over them in the shop, it was like the Harrods sale."

Greens Superstores intends to develop the shop and will be keeping on the existing staff. Spokesman Geoff Green said: "We wish David and Sue all the best for the future."