The owner of a newsagent has closed his shop "for the foreseeable future" with plans to reopen when it is fully refurbished.

Megs Newsagent, in Swain's Lane, is now closed to customers who must go elsewhere for their newspapers and magazines, birthday cards, stationary and Oyster card top ups.

Suresh Patel opened the store near the bottom of Highgate West Hill in September 1991, when he also lived in a flat above the shop. Both are being refurbished in a major project.

"You can't just rely on newsagents how they are anymore, you have to diversify," he said.

"I don't know what I'm going to do. I'll finish this project then I'll decide.

"The first weeks will be building works. I don't want too much stress in my mind, at the moment I'm clearing out, paying the bills, then I'll think about it."

Ham & High: When Megs Newsagent in Swain's Lane reopens its owner Suresh Patel said there will be a greater supply of birthday and other cardsWhen Megs Newsagent in Swain's Lane reopens its owner Suresh Patel said there will be a greater supply of birthday and other cards (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

He said he wasn't sure how long the shop would be closed for, saying it would be a "minimum eight months, maybe more".

The 66-year-old has been 42 years in the business, starting out in a family newsagent in Crouch End that has since closed.

After running Megs for 32 years, he said he has no plans to close permanently or move. 

"I like this area. I have good customers, nice customers," he said.

Now living in East Finchley, he plans to renovate the upstairs two-bedroom flat and run it as a separate business. "It will be nice," he added.

Ham & High: Megs Newsagent will be closed for the 'foreseeable future' but will reopen with a greater diversity of products Megs Newsagent will be closed for the 'foreseeable future' but will reopen with a greater diversity of products (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

His seven-year-old grandson Reyanh Raval was helping his grandad pack up stock in the shop when the Ham&High visited on September 1.

"When I lived upstairs I would come down every day and he would give me a lollipop," he said.

Asked if he'd like to run the newsagent one day, he said "yes" adding:"The people who come here are very nice so if I run a shop I'll get to know everyone better."