A “well performing” community pharmacy in Saltburn-by-the-Sea has been sold to an unnamed first-time buyer, according to Christie & Co who brokered the deal.

Skelton Pharmacy, which is in the town centre of Skelton-in-Cleveland, dispenses an average of 8,500 items a month, Christie & Co claimed.

The pharmacy was owned by Zulfiqar Rafiq for 11 years and was largely run by locum pharmacists. Rafiq owns three other pharmacies in Middlesbrough.

"I wish the new owner all the best, he is buying a thriving and growing business with excellent staff and loyal patient base,” he said.

Karl Clezy, director-pharmacy at Christie & Co, said the pharmacy “mainly attracted interest from first-time buyers in the North-East.”

“At this affordable price level, there is still a significant amount of active buyers interested in acquiring their first pharmacy,” he said.

“We placed the pharmacy on the market in the middle of February this year and we successfully agreed a deal after the first week in March.”

Skelton Pharmacy was sold for an undisclosed price. Christie & Co said the buyer wanted to keep their identity anonymous.