A COUPLE who have invested their life savings into a popular St Albans toy shop have been given just 30 days to relocate or face losing their business and home.

Rocketing business rates and rents through the recession has proved to be a difficult time for Little Wonders – which was crowned Retailer of the Year in 2009.

Partners Elena Ripoll and Andrew Mott were served the devastating and shocking news on Friday, by the landlords of the independent toy shop based in the Maltings, that they have one month to hand over their lease.

The couple were told another retailer with a bigger brand has offered to pay the £53,000 for the lease a year.

Mother-of-one Elena told the Review: “If we lose our business, we lose our home.

“We are not people who are doing this for the money. We believe in the business and we would like to take it further.

“We are a small independent shop which makes its money towards the end of the year and there is no doubt that it has been the high rates and rents which have affected independent businesses across the country.

“We were told on Friday that the landlords have a client ready to pay £53,000 a year – much more than we can afford.”

Elena, 30, said she has been trying to negotiate a new lease and has tried to persuade the landlords to give them until January to relocate – which would give them more of a chance to secure the funding.

However it seems Elena and Andrew face a rocky road ahead not knowing whether in months to come they will be able to provide a roof over their two-year-old daughter's head.

“We have negotiated a three month break in our rent. But if the landlords force us to leave in 30 days we will be looking for work.

“If we can't find the investment to keep Little Wonders going within three months we would lose our home.

“We have no savings. We have put every penny into keeping our business afloat.

“Do the people of St Albans really want to see us replaced by a bigger branded retailer?”

In order for Elena and Andrew, who commute from Aylesbury seven days a week, to successfully keep Little Wonders alive they need the investment to secure another location.

They are appealing to the people of St Albans to think about how they can help. Does the sound of investing in an independent toy shop interest you?

Contact Elena on 07958036996, 01727 863 800 or email elena_ripoll@hotmail.com.