The former Russian spy poisoned by a nerve agent was a lonely man who did not feel Russia was his home, a friend has revealed.
Ebru Ozturk runs the Bargain Stop in Roman Road, Salisbury, a short walk from Sergei Skripal's house.
The 41-year-old said she recently discovered his late son also used to pop into her shop but she never saw the two of them together.
She said Mr Skripal, 66, was lonely after his son and his wife died in 2017 and 2012 respectively.
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The former double agent and his daughter Yulia, 33, are in hospital in a "very serious condition" after they were on Sunday evening.
There is a large cordon around Mr Skripal's house on Christie Miller Road as detectives search for clues as part of a theory that the Skripals and Sergeant Nick Bailey, who is also in hospital, were poisoned at the house.
Ms Ozturk told Sky News: "I asked about going back to his country but he said he had not been for a long time and it did not feel like his country anymore."
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She described the former spy as a positive and happy person who made you smile as soon as you saw him.
The shopkeeper last saw him a number of days before he was taken ill on Sunday, after the snow had stopped him making it to the shop for his usually twice-weekly visits.
During their last conversation he won more money on scratchcards than he spent.
She said: "Last time he won more than he spent and I was saying 'this is not the way around'.
"He was laughing and we were telling other customers about it.
"He is a relaxed person, he said 'not a problem' a lot.
"Scratchcards were a bit of fun, it was not his way to earn money.
"On one card he won £4."
She thought he was "important" as he had important jobs in the past and looked well educated.
"I sell international foods and I was waiting for him to recommend some to me or request some Russian food or vodka," she said.
"He has been to a lot of countries which is why he is familiar with a lot of the products I sell, the Polish, the Bulgarian and the Romanian.
"He is like a grandfather, my daughter comes into the shop and she talks to him too.
"He cooks for himself, he enjoys life."
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Ms Ozturk said she did not believe money to be a problem for him because he would spend £40 to £50 at a time, but not on his main food shop.
She added: "He is polite, he is a kind person and I like him."
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