Former garage owners "haven't stopped crying" since feeling forced to shut up shop just weeks after becoming the UK's cheapest station for petrol.
Family-run Bailey Garage in Abergavenny, Wales, had recently pulled in mile-long queues of motorists wanting to fill their tanks for less.
Just last month owner Ian Bailey, 53, and his wife slashed the price of their petrol and diesel to be 20p cheaper than the national average, WalesOnline reports.
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Ian dropped prices to 163 pence per litre for unleaded petrol and 177.9 for diesel.
Business was soaring as a result, but despite the garage never being for sale – Ian admitted they were made an offer by Ascona Retail that they could not refuse.
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The 53-year-old, who inherited the garage from his dad, has addressed accusations online that he cut the price of fuel before selling up.
“I also feel really sad and as though a family member has died to be honest with you,” Ian said from the garage before it was officially sold on Wednesday.
“Ascona Retail approached us 18 months ago to buy it, and we’ve not known since whether it was actually going to happen or not. Even until last Thursday we didn’t really know.
“That’s why it upset me to see some comments on social media from Mickey Mouse platforms accusing us of getting rid of old stock cheaply.
"That was never the case, and we wouldn’t have old stock anyway – it’s impossible."
Ian explained that they got their prices from BP and were surprised to discover they were the only petrol station to seize the opportunity to sell fuel for less at the end of July.
He said: "When we could in July we dropped them straight down, and I’ve noticed not many others did – which I really struggled to get my head around."
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Revealing his plans on what to do next, Ian told WalesOnline: “I’m not 100% sure whether I’ve made the right or wrong decision. I don’t know. The garage has never been for sale, but we felt we couldn’t say no.
“I’m going to retire now and enjoy my life. I’ve never had a family holiday because of my ties to the garage. One thing I’ve always wanted to do with my life is take the children and grandchildren away. I can do that now.”
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