A LEOMINSTER shop which has traded in the town centre for more than 80 years is to close at the end of the month.

The Hintons Country and Garden store, based on Broad Street, will close on January 31.

The Hinton family, which has been trading in Leominster since well into the last century, has invested in its Worcester Road store and the two will amalgamate following the closure.

James Hinton told the Hereford Times this week: “We have had a trading presence for about 85 years on Broad Street.

“Life on the High Street has been hard so we have taken the decision to combine the two stores so we are still trading in the town but in a different location.”

The Worcester Road store has historically been more agriculture-based while the Broad Street store has focused more on garden, clothing and feed.

But the two will combine in the larger, out of town store, when trade is moved there.

“I think we are going to have a really good flagship store on Worcester Road,”

added Mr Hinton.

“Having had a presence in Broad Street for so long we probably seem like part of the furniture and I think a lot of people are sad we are closing but things aren’t what they used to be.

“More and more people like to use the car and drive. It’s a sign of the times.”

The last trading date of the Broad Street store is expected to be January 31 but Mr Hinton said this could be subject to change.

Two redundancies have been made at the Broad Street store but new positions have been made for a number of staff.