A NEW equestrian store has opened in Sutton-on-the-Forest, following the closure of the Ride-Away store.

Millbry Hill Country Store said it has opened its fifth store on the old Ride-Away site in the village just outside of York.

The group has four further stores based at Stokesley, Richmond, Whitby and Whitehaven, providing a

wide range of equestrian, pet products, animal feed and bedding, country clothing and footwear.

Ride-Away - which as recently as January was winning awards for its contributions to the trade - closed on Sunday, March 24.

In a message on social media it said it was moving online-only, and added: “Almost 40 years after first opening the doors to our York store, today is our last.

“We’d like to thank our local customers for all your support over the years, we’ll be forever grateful.”

Millbry Hill added that it is “delighted” to have been able to recruit five former Ride-Away employees.

Serena Jones, from the company, said: “As a business, we still very much see the value of bricks and mortar retail stores.”

Millbry Hill’s first week of trading from its new site commenced on Monday, March 25, with its biggest sale ever planned to run from Monday, April 1 until the official launch on Saturday, April 27.

The store will be open seven days a week and free parking is available at the Sutton-on-the-Forest site.

Millbry Hill said it is “determined to provide first class customer service alongside a great product range”.