Shop to close down - internet blamed

Sidley Pets will close its door for the last time on January 21.

Boss Pat Tidd says she is "gutted" but there is no alternative.

"We are closing down. The Internet has killed off the fishing side and we can't survive on the pets side of the trade here any more.

"I have been here 25 years and I worked here before then.

"I am gutted. But there is no choice.

"I was chatting to another trader up here the other day and he was saying that his trade has dropped off since the banks went from Sidley. That was the killer. It's only take-aways here now. There's no real trade any more.

"I shall close on January 21. Four weeks before Christmas we began gradually having a sale and this week I have advertised that I am closing down the fishing side.

"The fishing side used to be good. We did bait and tackle for fly fishing and coarse fishing.

"Now customers come in and tell me 'I got a nice rod off the Internet...'

"It's so cheap that I just can't compete.

"I'm not looking forward to the last weeks. There are some lovely people in Sidley and we have had a lot of good times."

Pat says it is not the end of the road for her. "We have the Wobbly Rabbit in the town so I am not retiring. But I shall miss Sidley."