A vehicle hire business has announced its closure at the end of the month after founders death.

Baynes Travel, a taxi and coach hire business based in Allendale, near Hexham, has released a statement on its website revealing that it is to close at the end of July following the death of its founder Nigel Baynes.

63 year-old-Nigel Baynes died after an accident at the company's yard on Thursday, March 10. He was a former president of the Allendale Lions club and hugely involved in numerous celebrations.

The post said:"Further to the recent tragic death of Nigel Baynes, founder and owner of Baynes Travel, we are immensely saddened to announce that we shall regrettably be closing the business from 24th July.
"We wholeheartedly thank our friends and customers for their love, loyalty and support, and for the memories we’ll cherish forever.
"Thank you all and we wish you well."

The business was originally set up Dennis Baynes, who created the a local taxi service up in the village of Allendale in the 1970’s with a second-hand VW Dormobile. Fifty years on from its start up, it was then run by Dennis' son Nigel who expanded the business to a fleet of modern cars, people carriers, coaches and mini-buses run by Baynes Travel. 

The company was used '24/7' for dropping business men off at the regional airports to catch the first flights; taking children to school; collecting exhausted hikers and mountain bikers from the tops of moors; ferrying wedding guests to receptions; touring country houses in the Scottish borders; and collecting exuberant parties of hens and stags from the night spots on Tyneside in the early hours of the morning. 

Allendale Cllr Dave Stevenson said: "Nigel's death was very tragic and he is a big miss in the community.

"It is really sad to see that his company Baynes Travel will be closing following his passing.

"The business helped everyone in the village and Tynedale so it will be missed.

"We would all like to wish the family well and offer our best wishes for the future."