ONE of Worcester’s oldest family businesses is back up and running having been closed for nearly four months due to flooding.

However, it wasn’t the River Severn that flowed through Robin Elt Shoes in The Shambles on June 13, a Thursday incidentally, but torrential rainwater from a blocked drain on the roof caused by seagull droppings.

The building has since undergone a £20,000 refurb and is ready to re-open.

Jenny Elt, who now runs the business on her own following the death of her father Robin in May, said: “It took at least a month for the place to dry out before we could do anything.

"Now the shop has had a complete refurb and I should think the total cost will be around £20,000."

READ MORE: Heartwarming video as Oscar's classmates march onto rugby pitch in front of thousands

Jenny is the fifth generation of Elts to run a retail footwear business with Robin Elt Shoes having eight branches across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire and down to Torquay and Totnes in Devon.

Although it has a modern façade, the building dates back to the 1600s and after water breeched a skylight on a flat roof at the rear, it cascaded down through the first floor stock room and then into the ground floor showroom and retail area.

The company can trace its roots back to a small shop selling “Goode Boots for Ladyes and Gentlemen”, which was opened in The Shambles in 1894 by William Webly.

In 1872 the business was purchased by Albert Edward Elt and his wife Eliza, who began its steady growth by purchasing the next door property, a public house called the Market Tavern.

This led to one of the most recognisable shop fronts in the street, with Elts standing opposite The Shambles Market Hall.

At the end of the 1960s, Roy Elt, Jenny’s grandfather, merged the business with Church Group’s retail division, which operated in Worcester in the former Elts shop as Jones Bookmaker. Robin Elt became branded buying director for Church Group, but in 1991, took back the Elt shops in Malvern and Leominster to set up his own family business again.

Then in 1998 he returned an Elt presence to Worcester by opening Robin Elt Shoes in The Shambles.

Mr Elt died in may this year after an 18-month battle with cancer and a celebration of his life was held on July 15, this year at Worcester Cathedral.