A company behind a popular farm shop in northern England is facing liquidation. Creditors are set to meet virtually next week over Hirst Family Trading Company Limited which trades as Albion Farm Shop in the village of Delph, Greater Manchester.

However, the shop, which has been described as having a "great atmosphere with friendly, welcoming staff”, is to remain open after being passed down a generation. Laura Hirst, daughter of David and Annette Hirst who run Hirst Family Trading Company, said Albion Farm Shop will now come under her own company, LJ Albion & Sons Limited. Ms Hirst paid tribute to her parents as she confirmed the news.

"We are 5th generation Albion Farm and the business is our life”, she said in a statement, according to The Oldham Times.

"Our main aim is to provide jobs to the local community, a channel for local and British producers to sell their goods, a place for people to gather and socialise, and an opportunity to produce hearty and wholesome home-cooked food, which includes meat raised on our very own Farm.

"Partner, Jac, will also be helping to run the business, along with sons Sidney, 4, and Gus, 18 months.

"We would like to say a huge thank you to mum and dad for all the hard work they have put in to creating a business that has become part of our community, when it really has not been easy."

Albion Farm Shop also has a cafe and restaurant serving local produce.

The Hirst family have been at Albion Farm since Ernest Hirst bought it from a relative in the early 1900s.

Ernest supplied eggs to shops across the area and later his son, Sidney with his wife Lillian and their young son David took over the farm.

Lillian sold eggs at the farm door for many years, until the shop opened in September 2007.

The farm shop’s website says Laura Hirst has been “overseeing shop management” at the business and developing it for “the digital age to allow customers to easily access events and foodie information”.

The business launched an online shop in January and also has its own events venue, The Turkey Shed.