A BUSINESSMAN said he closed two of his five corner shops in Hereford because they were no longer making money.

Craig Bradbury closed Wathens in King Street and The Copper Kettle in Aylestone Hill last Monday.

His three other shops Redhill Stores in Mayberry Avenue, Bartestree Stores and Withington Stores remain open.

He said: “It was a business decision. They were not going to come to fruition- they were never going to break even.

“The three remaining stores do a good trade and we couldn’t keep subsidising the other two.”

Mr Bradbury said he believes the closures will be short term as he has been told there are already people interested in taking over the leases at the two shops.

He said he feels sad about no longer running the shops, but it was a decision out of his control.

Mr Bradbury decided to stop selling tobacco and cigarettes at his stores last November but his management teams were against the decision, so they are now back for sale his three remaining stores.