The supermarkets have claimed another victim in the battle for Colchester's shoppers.

That's the view of chemist David Young after the news that another shop has closed in St Christopher Road, on the St John's estate.

Customers turning up at Glad's Bakery found the doors closed.

The demise of the bakery comes despite a "use it or lose it" campaign aimed at residents whom shopkeepers felt were bypassing their doors in favour of the supermarkets.

Mr Young launched the campaign and yesterday (Tuesday) spoke of his sadness at the loss of the bakery.

"It is another nail in the coffin. If people want supermarkets that is all they will have, because there won't be any local shops left if things carry on like this," he said.

"We are now surrounded by supermarkets, but it is not so easy for the elderly, or mothers with children to get to these. It is very short sighted."

Mr Young said the future of the St Christopher Road parade was in the hands of residents.

"It is entirely up to them whether they have local shops or not. The only way of keeping them is to use them. It is no good moaning after they have all gone."

St John's ward councillor Helen Chuah had also backed the use it or lose it campaign and said it was a "sad day for residents".

"This is the loss of another local shop," she said.

"People will have to travel out of the area and only the supermarkets will benefit."

Public warned more shops could go

St John's ward councillor Ray Gamble said this latest closure should act as a stark warning to the community.

"This coming hard on the heels of the closure of the butcher's shop, and with concerns about the chemists, it is certainly a big worry that the bakery has shut as well.

"It just adds fuel to the fire and the point we are making it clear that if people don't use our local shops they are going to close."

Mr Gamble said there has been an application for a take-away at the butcher's shop, but said the decision would be made by planners.

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