Capital Gardens are holding a grand closing down sale at Morden Hall Garden Centre in anticipation of the store being taken over by the National Trust.

Colin Campbell-Preston, managing director of Capital Gardens which has run Morden Hall for the past 23 years, said: "We don't quite know what's going to happen but the National Trust has indicated they might not renew our lease so we are taking steps now to reduce our stock."

"It upsets me that I am going to lose 30% of my business. It's been lovely. It's a great little business we have got at the garden centre. It's going to be awful to be honest."

The garden centre, which employs about 15 staff, has been at the heart of a legal battle for more than a year.

Edward Ikin, National Trust general manager at Morden Hall Park, said: "We are in discussions with Capital Gardens about the future of the garden centre at Morden Hall Park and have shared our intention that we would like to take the garden centre into our care.

"As we are speaking with Capital Gardens directly, and with their solicitors, we do not feel it is appropriate to discuss the details of the matter at this stage."

Mr Campbell-Preston says he expects the garden centre to be taken over by the National Trust by the end of August.