A Dutch book lover has told of his shock on learning he had won a Cardigan bookshop in a raffle.

Ceisjan Van Heerden became the UK’s newest independent bookseller last week after entering a raffle to win Bookends, which has been run by Paul Morris since 2014.

Mr Morris, who is taking early retirement due to worsening osteoarthritis, explained he wanted to give someone else the chance to realise their dream of running a bookshop.

Over the last three months, anyone who spent more than £20 in the shop was eligible to be entered into a raffle to win it.

Mr Van Heerden’s name was drawn out of a hat containing 59 others at a ceremony as Abba’s The Winner Takes It All played to an interested crowd of onlookers.

“The principle was to make sure the shop continues in good hands,”said Mr Morris.

“Ceisjan is a regular customer and I’m really pleased it was him – he wants to run it.”

Mr Van Heerden, who was not present at the prize draw, said he was ‘shocked’ to learn he had won.

“I love books and read a lot and just happened to be in the shop when a TV crew was making a film about Paul’s decision to raffle it off and I bought a ticket,” he recalled.

He officially takes over on 5 November and plans to run it with a friend from Iceland, who is now moving to Cardigan.