They've been supplying the finishing touches to special outfits for eight decades.

But now the owners of Grant's the hat shop are getting ready to close the doors.

The Falkirk institution, which has been taken care of by four generations of the same family, will tip its last hat on May 31, 86 years after it was established by a far from ordinary woman.

Elizabeth Grant, a trained milliner, set up shop in Falkirk's High Street in 1923.

At that time, she drove a car, had a head for business, and, to top it all off, was a wife and mother.

Grant's originally sold a range of ladies' accessories, such as scarves, gloves and hats but soon focussed on the latter, many of which were created and handmade by Elizabeth herself.

The shop was a home from home for Elizabeth's only daughter, Rita Grant, who took over the running of the shop after her mum retired.

Rita, who is 86, is now reluctantly retiring but says she's loved every second in the shop.

She said: "I've had a wonderful time. I've met so many lovely ladies and we've had generations of the same families as customers.

"It's been all I've known and if I could possibly keep doing it I would.

"I think being happy at your work makes you happy in life and I've been so happy."

The family tradition of working and helping out in Grant's carried on to Rita's daughter June Sandeman (60), a nursery teacher at Carmuirs
Primary, and June's daughter Carrie who's 24.

June said: "Nana used to say that you could spend a fortune on a suit, but if you didn't have a hat on, it would never look finished. She loved to help people look glamorous.

"It's emotional to be closing the shop. We've had wonderful times there and, on the whole, it's been a very happy place and a meeting place for our own family."

Over the years, customers have travelled the length and breadth of the country to get to Grant's, which Rita said earned its fine reputation through word of mouth.

June said: "We've always been honest with people. If a hat didn't suit them, we would tell them so, and help them look their best."

The shop, which is sure to be greatly missed, is due to close on May 31.
June said: "Watching the sign come down will be very difficult, but we are going to keep it."