HASLEMERE will see a number of changes in the town centre shops over the next few months.

With the announcement that Concours Motors is due to relocate this summer, another long-standing family firm has announced its intention to close later this year.

Derek Boxell of Boxell's Shoes, which has traded under the family name in the High Street shop for 83 years, has said he was planning to retire after many years in the business.

The closure of another business in town will also herald the death knell for daily newspaper deliveries in the Haslemere area.

Ye Gables Shoppe in Lower Street, which has been run by Sanjay and Manisha Patel for the past 11 years, is also closing its doors this spring.

Mr Patel (36) told The Herald that after protracted negotiations for a new lease over the past nine months, he had decided to call it a day.

"We did not feel it was worthwhile with all the demands on rent and repairs and the hours we put into the business," he said.

Mr Patel's brother Tarun, who also helps with the business together with Mr and Mrs Patel's young children Ricky (14) and Sapana (10), will be saying goodbye to the town and moving back to London.

Newspaper deliveries finish on April 20, leaving the town with no alternative newspaper delivery service.

"It is harder to get people to deliver with the weight of the papers. The only option is to take on adult deliverers and pay adult wages - the future in a few years time would have been bleak," said Mr Patel.

He said he believed the Grade II listed building, together with upstairs accommodation, was on the market for around £230,000.

Mr Patel said he was one of the largest distributors of newspapers locally, selling around 1,200 daily and delivering papers to a number of outlets including Hindhead Training Centre, Lythe Hill Hotel and Haslemere Hospital as well as individual customers.

For one elderly resident, the news of the closure has come as a blow.

Unable to get out to buy her morning newspaper, Frances Duncan, who lives in the High Street said the situation was "impossible".

"It makes it terribly difficult for older people. I will not be able to get a newspaper at all," she said.

"I can't walk up the High Street and there are so many of us who look forward to getting a newspaper every day."