Pictured above: Ian Parker of John Truslove with James and Richard Edge of Sweetz

A 10-year-old Bromsgrove schoolboy is playing a key role in helping his dad do the ordering for the town's recently opened old fashioned sweet shop.

James Edge, a pupil at Bromsgrove Preparatory School, is one of the brains behind Sweetz, which is owned by his father Richard at 140 High Street.

Business property consultants John Truslove arranged the lease on the deal to occupy the 727 sq ft shop.

Mr Edge says: "Woolworth's closure presented us with an opportunity to sell much of their pick and mix range and add to our own by sourcing traditional product locally from JJ Confectionery at Lye, near Stourbridge.

"The children pile in here on their way to and from school and love exploring the jars of gob stoppers, pineapple rock, sweet tobacco, rosy apples and aniseed balls.

James says: "My dad was not really up to speed with the new sour sweet range like Toxic Waste and Millions, which are really cool and what people of my age want as well as the old ones."

Mr Edge, who was brought up in Bromsgrove and also runs a wholesale/retail tropical fish business in the town, believed that an old fashioned sweet shop selling only confectionery and local ice cream will fill a niche in the town.

"I'm in my 50s and I can remember how popular with kids those old style sweets were when they were stored in jars and lined up on shelves.

"They get an incredible choice here and all the old names are back. There seems to be a trend to bring them all back and so far we have been very successful.

"Opening an old fashioned confectionary shop was always something I was interested in doing - and getting assistance from someone as sharp and on-the-ball as James is a great help."

John Truslove said: "We're always delighted to see an independent retailer opening up in the town - as they seem to be a disappearing breed.

"A trip to Sweetz is certainly nostalgic for me."