A beloved chocolate shop in East Sussex is closing down due to "age creeping up suddenly". Vic and his wife Karen Dowdey have owned Sweet Moments in Seaford for 23 years but have decided now is the right time to retire, planning to do so in late April or early May.

Now, the couple faces their last big challenge: the busy Easter period.

Karen, 64, told BBC: "We work long hours making up the gifts, we're looking forward to putting our feet up after Easter Sunday."

The shop is one of Seaford's oldest ones in the High Street, with the owners hoping that someone else will take control of the business.

Vic, 62, said: "We've come to that age that after being here 23 years, we need to retire. It would be nice if someone else took the business on.

"There has been interest, whether that comes to fruition I don't know."

Karen concluded: "Age creeps up very suddenly, so it wasn't really a hard decision. If you have a shop, there's lease agreements you need to sign and they're often for 10 years.

"That's quite a long commitment when you're approaching retirement."

Since 2003, Sweet Moments stocks more than 85 different chocolates imported directly from Belgium.

Its website reads: "Having lived and worked in Europe for many years and enjoyed the difference and quality of chocolate Belgian people accept as a way of life, we are now able to bring to Seaford some of the finest chocolates and confectionery from mainland Europe, all imported from Belgium and other European countries."

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The business has almost five stars on Google reviews.

One satisfied customer who travelled to Seaford to get the sweet treats wrote: "Travelled to this shop, from Pevensey, specifically and it didn't disappoint. We went in, with no notice for them, and bought 11 of their boxes of chocolates in various sizes and several other choclatey treats and it was no issue at all.

Of course we went off and did our other shopping and came back and they were all beautifully wrapped and ready to go. Staff were friendly and polite and the whole experience was faultless from start to finish.

If you want the best chocolates, plenty of choice and service with a smile then is the place for you. Small businesses really are the best."

Sweet moments are not the only UK-based chocolate company closing their doors this year.

Recently, a UK luxury chocolate firm Rococo Chocolates has entered into administration. It has been trading for more than 40 years, having been established in 1983 by Chantal Coady OBE on the King's Road in Chelsea, London.

Another business plunging into administration has been the London-based business Marasu's Petit Fours, a prestigious UK chocolate maker that has supplied Prestat, Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, and Harrods.