A town centre pet supplies shop has been forced to shut down due to a lack of trade.

Creature Comforts, in Congleton, Cheshire, closed for the final time on Saturday after less than a year in the town.

Owner Ruth Hindson, who has run a thriving pet supplies shop in Sandbach for 11 years, says a lack of footfall meant the Congleton business was not sustainable.

Ruth told the Stoke Sentinel newspaper: “We opened here last April and expected it to be slow at first but it has not taken off. I don’t know if it’s the competition from the supermarkets and other stores. The footfall here is not good.

 “The business rates have also been a problem as we don’t get any relief because we have two shops, even though we are only a small business.

“I do feel sad to have to close but it is also a relief. We took a gamble but it didn’t work out.”

Ruth and her husband Ian will now concentrate on their Sandbach shop.

To read the full Stoke Sentinel report click here