AN Alcester shopkeeper who was forced to shut up shop due to plummeting profits has branded Alcester a "dying town with no heart".

Nigel Curtis, of Alcester Photographic on High Street, says younger shoppers have abandoned their town in favour of chain stores and internet shopping and says he can see no hope for the future.

And he added the town, once home to a rich array of specialist shops, is rapidly giving way to hairdressers' and charity shops.

"Alcester is heaven for the elderly but has nothing to offer young people, who are the future of the town," he said.

Mr Curtis, who lives in Studley but went to school in Alcester, said his photographic store was a thriving business in the 1980s.

But on New Years' Eve, 24 years after he first opened his doors, the shop finally closed down.

He said: "It's a sad state of affairs but nobody wants to bring their friends to a dying town with no character and no heart. Youngsters would rather buy everything from a huge store and remain anonymous. Gone are the days when a shopkeeper knew every customer."

Mr Curtis said shoppers needed to start supporting their town or its once unique character would be lost altogether.

But he added: "When the ship is sinking there's no point staying with it. I have chosen to jump the ship and do something completely different."

Chairman of Alcester Chamber of Trade and Commerce Andy Mills said he had great sympathy for the owners of shops that had closed but added the town's stores still had around 98 per cent occupancy.

He said: "Admittedly we have lost a couple of shops but another couple have opened. Anyone visiting our website at www.alcester.co.uk will see how many shops there are in the town and the variety of products available.

Mr Mills said it was up to individual retailers to make their shops accessible through the Internet, but said the traditional market town had never been particularly geared towards young people.

He added: "Alcester is no different from any other town as far as trade is concerned."