A BOUTIQUE in York which once featured on the TV show Mary Queen Of Shops will close tonight for the final time.

Lucy Weller, owner of Selkie, in Low Petergate, said it had become impossible for independent shop owners in York to survive against the onslaught of the chain stores and supermarkets.

She said: “After the television show, things picked up – the Mary Portas effect was amazing.

“If I hadn’t had help from Mary, I would have closed sooner – two years ago.”

Lucy said supermarkets and a number of recent additions to the already-crowded high streets of Britain, such as White Stuff and Cath Kidston, were impossible to compete with.

She said: “I had phenomenally talented staff, who made beautiful things and for a while that kept us going. It felt very special – like a co-operative at one point.

“But, slowly but surely, the high street moved in to York, it exploded. It’s a different market now.

“I’m just a tiny little business and I’m not interested in trying to fight the good fight. It’s not a happy experience any more and I don’t want to be in a negative environment any more.

“The girls who worked there were extremely helpful but we just could not compete with clothes made in China.”

Lucy set up Selkie seven years ago with the idea of recreating the feel and individuality of the famous street markets of London, such as Portobello.

She said her clothes were often cheaper than those in high street stores, but people felt secure with certain labels.

“It used to be young people who set the trends, but now it’s the chain stores,” she said.

“These days, if you have a little shop, it has to be more of a hobby. You have to sell so much to make it effective. “ Despite closure, Lucy said: “I don’t feel as though I have failed – it’s just how it is. I’m very happy to be going.”

Despite the closure of Selkie, there is some good news for the city with the expected opening of a TK Maxx store in September.

The old Boots store in Coney Street will be home to the popular clothing and home shop. Meanwhile sister company Home Sense, will open a store at Foss Islands Retail Park at the end of August.