A HEREFORDSHIRE shop says it has been forced to close because of "reduction of footfall mostly due to car park greed".

Mousetrap Cheese will be closing its Leominster shop next week, citing the cost of living crisis and a rise in car park charges putting people off parking in the town as reasons for the closure.

"It is with great sadness that we are announcing the closure of Mousetrap Cheese in Leominster. Our last day open will be Friday, April 5.

"Leominster was the first of the Mousetrap Cheese shops opened over 35 years ago. While it was always the quietest of the three shops, we were able to manage that and make it worth staying open. Unfortunately, the cost of living and the reduction in footfall in the town (mostly due to council car park greed) has beaten us. While Hereford and Ludlow are well-used and safe, our electricity bills quadrupling within a year as well as very many other increases in cost is just too much to run in Leominster.

"Of course you can also buy our cheese online. We would like to give a huge thanks to our customers for all their custom and good cheer over the years and of course thank our lovely staff, new and old, who have helped us serve the people of Leominster."

The remaining Mousetrap shops are at 30 Church Street, Hereford, and 6 Church Street, Ludlow.

Recently, a day of free car parking was held in Leominster to encourage people to shop from local independent businesses. But this left people questioning why parking could not be free, or cheaper, all the time.

ALSO READ:

According to Herefordshire Council, Leominster has a total of 575 car park spaces.

The town's Dishley Street and Broad Street car parks cost £1 an hour or £3 for three to 25 hours from 8am to 6pm, with free parking on Sundays. Coaches are free.

Prices at the Etnam Street car park start at 90p an hour, while stays from four to 24 hours cost £4.50 from 8am to 6pm, again with free parking on Sundays.

The Central Area car park costs £1.20 for one hour or £2.40 for two hours from 8am to 6pm, and is again free on Sundays.

Herefordshire Council has been approached for comment on parking charges in Leominster.