A new board game that combines elements of classic strategy games has gone on sale exclusively in an independent local shop.

“Syeknom: Battle for the Island” was designed and developed by Winston Harris, 52, who works at Timpson shoe repair shop on Loughton High Road, over the last eight years.

The new game is currently exclusively available in The Book Shop on Loughton High Road, although it is available online and major London toyshop Hamleys has also expressed interest.

“It is not like anything else”, said Mr Harris of the two-player strategy game.

After six years of design and development, the game has been tested for the last two years ahead of its release on to the market.

Mr Harris said that the game is aimed at adults, but it is accessible to everyone.

“It is not very difficult to play”, he said.

“My niece can play it and she is only seven.”

A lifelong interest in board games inspired Mr Harris to create the game, but he said that it was the classic games that he was most interested in.

He said: “I like the classic board games, so I tried to mix them all together in one.

“It has got elements of chess, draughts and backgammon.”

The many years of development have been worth it according to Mr Harris, who anticipates expanding into other local businesses in the run-up to Christmas.