A Prestatyn couple bid goodbye to their nine-to-fives to start a business venture billed as "Argos for antiques."

Dave and Kirsten Lorey have launched ReSourced, an antiques and vintage on-line store, with a warehouse based in Denbigh.

The couple, both 58, retired from their jobs as, respectively, head of English at Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan Abergele and lead officer of corporate property at Denbighshire County Council to make the move.

Mrs Lorey handles locating and researching items, while Mr Lorey restores and cleans them ready for sale.

The collection ranges from medical cabinets and mid-century furniture to WW2 searchlights, glassware, paintings, and French homeware.

Ms Lorey said: "Think of it as an Argos for antiques.

"This is something we’ve always wanted to do – we’re fascinated with good design, interiors, and the history of design. 

"We want to offer something a little different to our clients through our online store which they can view in the comfort of their own home – and then visit the store to check out and collect the items, which we can also deliver.

"After lockdown and the almost impossible challenges of working in our public sector areas, we just felt we had nothing left to give. 

"It also became more urgent when I lost a very close friend and work colleague in tragic circumstances and then my mum developed dementia. 

"After 34 years of teaching and 27 years working for Denbighshire, we just thought ‘why not take the leap now?’

"I’ve always been interested in literature and history and have been lucky enough to apply that interest to my role as an A-level classroom teacher. 

"I was often found dragging in mannequins wearing authentic Victorian dress and bringing in other items from the periods we studied in the literature courses. 

"Over the last few years, I just became more fascinated with the stories of objects, which really give us an insight - much like literature - into the way people lived and felt about their worlds. 

"The antiques are just another text for me to read really.

"In my 40 years or so of buying antiques, I’ve seen some breathtaking objects. 

"I was also dared by my work colleagues to go on [TV show] Dickinson's Real Deals in Llangollen to sell an item, which was great fun. 

"I did once try to sell Drew Pritchard a beautiful antique door, only to eventually realise he’d originally sold it to the person I bought it from!"

ReSourced opened for viewing on-line items in August, and will be operating fully from September 21 on the Maldwyn Williams garage site in Denbigh.

Enquiries can be made via the ReSourced website at https://re-sourced-9975.myshopify.com 

Most online items can also be viewed at the Denbigh unit.