Owners of Blue Ribbon Cleaners have declared that they are open for business and have no intention to close up shop.

Owners Kim and Edward Guntl have been worried about rumours circulating that they are closing down and selling off stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Guntl, who have two dry cleaners -- one on Reid Street and another on Bermudiana Road -- made the announcement yesterday after their stores were inundated with calls from customers worried that their clothes would be sold off.

Mrs. Guntl told The Gazette yesterday: "We are happy and profitable and will continue to serve our customers.

" We do not know where these rumours have come from, but we have had lots of calls from worried customers.

"I think they are getting confused with Quality Dry Cleaners that closed last year.'' Mrs. Guntl added that business was doing well and the company had no intention of closing either of its Hamilton shops or its drop store in Warwick.

"Staff have been getting really upset with the calls,'' she said.

"We just want our customers to know we will not be selling off any clothes and never have done.

"We have donated clothes and over the years the odd thing may have gone missing, but we are definitely not selling off any of our customers clothes and we are certainly not closing.'' Pressing ahead: It's business as usual at Blue Ribbon Cleaners outlets on Reid Street and Bermudiana Road.