WITH the doors of Kays catalogue factory now firmly closed, the city is coming to terms with the end of an era.

The firm - once one of Worcester's biggest employers - has a history spanning three centuries and as the final workers left the Bransford Road site on Friday, the impact it has had on Worcester's people over the years was particularly resonant.

Kays historian and former employee Bernard Mills has spent years collecting and collating both memorabilia and stories connected to Kays.

"I went up there in the morning to see colleagues I've known for years and they were all feeling much like I did when I left four years ago - they were very sad and very emotional."

Mr Mills, who was an IT project manager, believed the writing was on the wall when the company was taken over by Reality in 2000.

"For me it stopped being Kays when it became Reality," he said.

That was the year that Mr Mills established the Kays Heritage Group in order to preserve the rich history of the firm, through photographs, letters and memories of former employees.

He now hopes to set up a Kays Association, a social group for ex-workers.

He said: "As part of my role as heritage collector, I've been wanting to do something for years. The first step is to draw a groundswell of opinion.

"It will be a social association between members of staff, probably getting together once or twice a month.

"They will be able to swap tales and keep their friendships going."

Mr Mills said he understands what many workers will be going through.

"It's a process of grieving, in a way it's like losing a dear friend or a relative.

"It's the people, not the job that will be missed.

"The first couple of weeks will feel like a holiday, but by the third week it will hit them - they're not going back.

"They'll be putting their redundancy cheques in the bank, going to the Jobcentre and registering for work if they haven't already, so there are a few things to keep you busy but it still leaves a big hole in your life."

Anyone interested in joining a Kays Association can call Mr Mills on 07767 692957 or send an e-mail to enquiries@kay heritage.org.uk