A family has celebrated a century of business at a farm shop and garden centre in East Hampshire.

Luff’s is firm part of the landscape these days, offering everything from compost and equestrian supplies to flowers, fruit and vegetables.

But its roots stretch back to James Raynsford Luff, a gardener who built a house and small market garden off Haslemere Road in Liphook.

One of his sons, James, rented part of the adjacent river to grow watercress after fighting in the First World War. He later went into partnership with his cousin, a sweet shop and confectionery business owner called Mercy Larby.

James bought out Mercy’s share in 1926 and founded Luff & Co, although it traded as Larby & Luff for a while. He was keen on producing bottled fruit and homemade pickles while a premises be brought in Liphook blossomed into a greengrocer’s and florists.

He met future wife Greta Sehmer when trying to sell confectionery to her tea rooms in Liphook with the pair marrying and moving to Shottermill where they had two children, Helen and Andrew.

The bottling operation expanded and he snapped up 40 acres of land off Longmoor Road in 1947 with the family moving into the Midlands Farm site.

The confectionery business was sold in 1955 while James died ten years later, with the family later losing a battle to prevent a school from being built on their farm.

They had to begin again and bought Coolgreany Gardens in Headley, renaming it Midlands Farm.

Rebuilding was no small task but Andrew and his wife, Shelia, made it possible through determination, hard work and unwavering family support.

The Luff legacy continues through their son, Paul, who has taken over the day-to-day running of JR Luff & Co carrying forward the family tradition and ensuring it continues for future generations.