A VETERAN baker who has served the community for nearly 40 years has baked his last dozen.

Harland Self, 69, took over Self's Bakery based on The Street in Weeley and has been running it single-handedly since he turned 30.

Mr Self's father, Lesley Wilfred Self, originally opened the bakery in 1949 which was formerly the bakery in Thorpe.

Between Lesley and now retired Harland they have baked bread in the village for over 70 years making it the end of a generation of Self Bakers in Tendring.

"My father bought the bakery when I was 18-months-old and I would also help out in the bakery as a child making bread and kneading dough," he said.

"When I was older I was a radio and TV engineer for Stanwood for about seven years.

"But when I was about 22, much to my parents dismay, I went all over the country to become a musician.

"I went all over Europe - I had my own group called Mustard

"I was in the band for about eight years until I was about 30.

"I then worked with my father in the bakery for about five years until he retired in 1979 and I've been there ever since

"I bought the building next door to the bakery and I lived above it now I've sold the whole lot."

Harland would start baking at midnight each night and work right through until about 7am.

"I would then have two part time ladies come and help in the front with the shop," he added.

Harland is now retiring and moving to Little Bromley as Allison and Andrew Gaunt took over the bakery last week.

The Gaunt family now live above the bakery with their two young boys William who is six weeks old and Jack who is 20-months-old.

Andrew, 44, said the family were nervous about taking over the bakery but sales are already looking promising.

"We only opened last Thursday," he said.

"Allison hasn't done it before but I think we're nervous about the fact Harland opened three days a a week and we're open six.

"I'm in charge of the baking and the shop so I will start work at about 10pm last night up until about 4pm.

"I make about 50 loaves of bread a selection of rolls and fresh cream cakes which are all baked by me.

"We've started selling sourdough bread as we're trying to bring it up with what people are looking for now.

"We had to buy a French stick over the weekend because we ran out of bread."