A PATISSERIE that delighted a town with treats for a decade has shut down despite efforts from new management.

Delicious pastries and petit fours at Patisserie Pascal will fade into memory after the much-loved Abingdon shop closed, marking the end of almost a decade in the town.

It shut its doors in East St Helen Street last week and a new retailer is poised to take its place.

Abingdon town councillor Lorraine Oates officially opened the shop in May 2007 and said it was a 'great shame' to see it close.

She said: "They were brilliant, we often used to go and get things there at breakfast time. They were very popular, they did lovely fresh pies and tarts. They will be sadly missed."

She said it was a 'great pleasure' to witness the shop's efforts during some of the council's Britain in Bloom competitions, when former co-owner Debbie Garandeau would hang baskets stuffed with flowers outside of the shop.

Mrs Garandaeau ran the shop with husband Pascal until September, when the pair retired and passed the reigns to Natalia Wantulok.

Customers were treated to her takes on some of Mr Garandaeu's famous French pastries, as well as those influenced by her Polish roots.

Gary Cooper, who runs Fabulous Flowers in Bridge Street, said the patisserie was among the independent spots that helped to make the town 'unique'.

He added: "It had been getting better after the reopening and people started going back, then it suddenly closed. It's not good for Abingdon."

A sign was put up in the shop window saying 'new retail' will be taking the patisserie's place, believed to be food-related, though this has not been confirmed.

The patisserie posted on its Facebook page on Thursday: "Shop is now closed and waiting for new beginning. We wanted to thank all our customers and it was truly a pleasure serving you for the last months."

Ms Wantulok, who had been living in Drayton, has not yet responded to a request for comment.