A SELF-serve launderette in Minehead due to close with the retirement of owner Wayne Clarke has been saved with a prospective new owner stepping forward.

The new operator, who has not yet been named, is buying Bubbles Launderette, in Park Street, as a going concern.

A spokesperson told the Free Press it would be ‘business as usual’ and there would not be any changes for the time being to how the launderette operated.

The purchase is expected to be completed ‘in the next few weeks’.

In the meantime, a planning application for a change of use of the premises remains live with Somerset Council.

Mr Clarke wants to widen the range of business activities which can be operated from the property to make it more flexible.