A YORK shop has closed this weekend after serving the community for 25 years.

Barnitts in Front Street, Acomb, closed its doors for the final time on Friday after it became no longer "commercially viable".

Managing director Paul Thompson told The Press recently the store had come to the end of its 25-year lease, and the company had decided not to stay on as the size of the shop also meant they could not stock the range it wanted to.

He said: "We are sad about it. The dynamics have changed and the types of shops down there are not attracting the footfall. Twenty-five years ago Acomb was very busy. The way people shop has changed, people get their goods delivered, we have to change with it.

"We would like to thank everybody who has supported us over the years and we are very sorry we are closing our doors. We have done as much as we can, we have tried our best to get it to turn around but it's not happened. It hasn't been an easy decision."

The five staff employed at the Acomb branch will move to work in other parts of the Barnitts business, which employs 84 people in York.

The company, which has a store in Colliergate, offers a free delivery service which can be used by shoppers who would normally visit the Acomb branch, and plans are underway to start a click and collect service with parking in James Street.