A shop which has been run in Weston-super-Mare town centre for more than four decades is closing its doors, with its owners blaming the council for ‘neglecting’ the area.

Brothers Alan and Peter Castell have announced they are closing the Meadow Street electrical store, Peter Castell Ltd, after trading there for 44 years.

The brothers have blamed the lack of trade in the street, which it says has fallen dramatically since their shop first opened

Alan Castell said: “The decision to close the shop after so many years is regrettably a reflection of the state of Meadow Street and trading in the 21st century.

“After years of neglect by North Somerset Council, Meadow Street has changed from a thriving street full of shops selling everything you could think of to a street where more shops are shut down than open.

“It had become more and more difficult to attract new, younger customers, while at the same time trading on the internet has been growing until it now represents nearly half of all Peter Castell Ltd’s sales.”

The council’s executive member for economic development Elfan Ap Rees said: “Certainly we have issues in that area of Weston with many tenanted occupants of rented properties and we are cracking down with rogue landlords.

“I don’t think we can blame the council for the social circumstances in the area.

“Irrespective of the neighbours they are in a very quiet part of Weston, well away from the main shopping centre.

“I am very sorry to hear Castells is relocating but unfortunately they are up against the big traders and that’s the way this type of business is starting to move. I am sure they will be successful as an internet company.”

Peter Castell Ltd will be relocating to its warehouse in Warne Road, where the company will continue to offer servicing and equipment rental to customers – but the store will not be generally open to the public.

Alan said: “We would like to thank all our customers over the years for their custom and the support we have had and look forward to being of service to them in the future.”

The company will also continue to trade online on its website – www.gigaworld.co.uk – and through Amazon.