A FISHMONGER will shut shop in Pewsey following dramatic falls in sales since the closure of Lloyds bank in the village.

Paul Sibthorpe said that the impact of the bank closure on his trade has been so significant that it is no longer viable for him to keep PHS Fishmongers open.

Around a third of business had dropped off since July, when the bank closed.

Mr Sidthorpe said: “Some days two hours can go by and I do not see anyone which can be soul destroying. I have been seriously thinking about this for just over a month.

“It is very difficult because of the way the business has gone, on the one hand you think it will be good when it is gone but on the other hand I have put so much hard work into the business that it is very sad.

“People do like local businesses but they don’t use them enough. When I first moved into the shop another trader said the trick is keeping customers coming and we did manage to do that quite well up until the bank closure, then that had a big impact. I had to make the decision to get out while I could.”

Lloyds bank described falls in transactions as the reason behind the closure. The Pewsey bank was one of around 100 closures across the country carried out by Lloyds over the summer.

The fishmonger, who originally trained at the fish counter at Selfridges in London, is now selling off his final equipment ahead of the closure on Saturday (Oct 28).

Mr Sibthorpe, of Market Lavington, ran a number of successful fishmongers in Devon before getting his bus license and working as a bus driver. A diabetes diagnosis threatened his driving career in 2015, and he returned to the shop trade opening PHS fishmongers in Pewsey shortly after.

Describing the first 14 months of trade as successful, Mr Sidthorpe noticed that following the bank closure his sales never returned.

Now his diabetes is under control he has made the tough decision to close the shop and return to driving.

Customers have reacted to the announcement on social media by expressing sadness at losing the independent seller from their high street.

Paula Roden-Genge said: “This is so sad, Pewsey people need to support local businesses.”

Kay Naylor added: “Yet another local business shafted by the banks desertion of our high streets.”

A spokesman for Pewsey Parish council said: “The bank closure has had an impact but other businesses do seem to be surviving and some are even expanding.

“We are continuing to support local businesses by providing free car parking in the village.”