AN 18-YEAR-OLD has reopened a family business after its closure last year prompted an outcry from the community.

Oli Saunders, who worked in his dad’s store since childhood, has taken on the Lomax and Staines lighting business his father ran for 14 years.

The business’s latest incarnation, Witney Lighting, opened last week following months of refurbishment at its new location across the road in High Street.

John Saunders, 68, closed Lomax and Staines Electrical Supplies in April last year, using the space to expand the other arm of his business, the Witney Sewing and Knitting Centre.

Lomax and Staines, a family business dating back to the 1960s, was taken over by Mr Saunders about 14 years ago. Being such a well-known name in the community, its closure last year was simply not accepted by many in the town.

Oli said: “When my dad went to close that part of the business the reaction we had was just phenomenal.

“We had all these people coming in and saying ‘Witney can’t do without you’.”

So Oli, who had spent a large part of his life working in his dad’s lighting shop, surprised his father by suggesting he take it over himself.

He said: “I’ve worked in the shop since I was 11. My dad always involved me in the business, which was quite nice really. But to be honest, if somebody had asked me when I was that age if I could see myself taking it on I would said no chance.

“But after finishing school and working full time in the shop during the summer I started to really enjoy it.

“I think my dad was a bit shocked to say the least. At first he tried to turn me away and told me to go to university and get a degree, but I was just so enthusiastic about the idea.

“We’ve had a lot of people saying it’s fantastic we’re back. The overall consensus seems to be that people are happy about it.”

Though surprised by his son’s decision, Mr Saunders was left very impressed by his offspring’s abilities.

Mr Saunders said: “He’s done it all up totally on his own. The fact that at 18 year’s old he’s taken on a place like that and revamped it – I just don’t know where he gets the talent from.

“To get the shop ready he was working 10 to 12 hours a day. I don’t think his girlfriend was too happy about it. He just hasn’t stopped.”

The shop sells a range of lighting equipment from bulbs to table lamps.