A POPULAR High Street bakery which has served generations of Bromsgrove residents has closed its doors for the final time.

Cooks the Bakery, more fondly known as Three Cooks which was the shop’s name before a 2006 rebrand, closed suddenly over the Christmas period.

Generations of loyal customers have enjoyed freshly made products from the bakery including sandwiches, baguettes and rolls, which were all made on-site.

It was a familiar site to see shoppers having lunch on the bakery’s High Street sheltered tables and chairs in good weather, but during the winter customers often took refuge inside the shop and enjoyed its much loved cafe and tea room.

Rumours have been circulating for a while that the Bromsgrove branch of the national chain of bakery street shops, which has been serving customers for decades, was to close.

In 2006, after the chain went into administration and closed 37 loss-making sites, it was speculated Bromsgrove’s branch could be at risk of closure.

But following a buyout in November 2006, the shop was one of those to remain open and was rebranded Cooks the Bakery.

The Advertiser/Messenger approached the national chain asking for details behind the closure and redundancies made, but the company is yet to comment.