AN independent music shop is closing its doors after nearly 50 years of trading due to a decrease in footfall and the upcoming introduction of on-street parking charges.

The Outback classical record shop has been a mainstay in Church Street, Hereford for 25 years, and first opened in Maylord Street, with Peter Wilson then at the helm.

Madeleine Townson, 71, has been running it for around 30 years and said there are a number of reasons for the decision to shut up shop.

She said: "It is really since the new shopping centre [The Old Market] opened and footfall in this side of town has gone down by 30 percent."

The footfall had been collected by recording the number of mobile phones in the street.

And other reasons then pushed her towards making the final decision.

Ms Townson said: "The thing that really persuaded me to say, 'This is the moment,' partly because I am getting on and I couldn't find anyone to take it on. And also because of the new parking restrictions in the centre of town and the loss of free parking in Castle Street, which will made a big difference to our older customers.

"They don't want a shopping experience and they want to be able to pop into town and walk in easily. A lot of our customers are elderly."

The shop sells classical and jazz recordings and then also started selling books and greeting cards when music internet downloads became more popular.

Ms Townson, from Hampton Bishop, said: "I shall miss the customers terribly. I will be really sad."

One customer wrote in to the Hereford Times to express her sadness at the closure.

Irene Lloyd, from Underhill Road, Tupsley, said: "This shop is a gem- always well-stocked and staffed by knowledgeable, helpful people. Again, Hereford loses an independent trader and becomes a 'Three Choirs' city without a genuine classical music outlet. How sad."

Health food shop, Fodder (which has a shop across the street) is taking on the Outback premises to sell vitamins, minerals, organic and planted-based lifestyle skincare, and offer complementary therapies.

Ms Townson said this helped her make the final decision to close, adding: "I am really pleased they are coming in."