Bosses at a Manx electrical firm with nearly 50 years’ experience of serving the island have taken the business off the market.

And managing director Robert Byers announced it was very much business as usual for the company which used to operate from premises in Peel Road, Douglas.

He is keen to stress Waltons is very much up and running and operating from a site at Cooil Smithy, on the Isle of Man Business Park.

Isle of Man Newspapers reported in May that Waltons had announced it was looking for new owners and welcomed fresh investment into the firm.

Now Mr Byers has confirmed: ‘The directors took Waltons off the market in June. I am very pleased to be able to say this great old local business will be around for a long time.

‘We were very grateful for all the local support and positive comments whilst our future seemed uncertain.

‘Soon after placing our business for sale we engaged in conversation with our supplier, they very quickly offered to help.

‘What followed is a new supply structure and access to new trade accounts.

‘We now offer a better range than ever. We also hold more stock in our warehouse than ever.’

He told the Manx Independent they stocked a great range of equipment including so-called wallpaper televisions.

These are ultra-modern very thin TVs which are no thicker than wallpaper and fixed by a magnet.

Mr Byers, who has been with the business for around 22 years, said it was ‘taking a little time to get everything just as we want it.’

But he promised a full popular range of products including top equipment and specialist audio ‘by the most respected names.’

He added continuation as a warranty repair centre was ‘never in any doubt. There was always a plan to protect this above everything else.

‘We are not only continuing with our same day service commitment, we plan to improve our service range to include mobile device warranty repair.’

Since closing the Strand Street store Waltons has built a modern demonstration facility at its business park warehouse. He acknowledges the business will continue to make best use of the business park location ‘until we find somewhere more suitable.’

He added: ‘We also have our website and our customers can buy online or browse our range and prices before calling for a demonstration.

He added the business would love to hear any suggestions for the future use of the closed Strand Street store.

He explained Strand Street did not ‘work well’ for the range of products sold by Waltons, ‘understandably because most is too large to carry.’ But he admits it would be a ‘shame to waste the space.’