THE PLIGHT of village shops has been highlighted with the closure of a 50-year-old newsagents business.

Menston shopkeeper Talib Hussain and wife Bushra closed the doors of Whitehouse Newsagents, Bradford Road, Menston, for the last time last Saturday, amid growing

competition with bigger businesses.

He believes the shop has been running for more than 50 years, and says older customers can remember coming into the shop as youngsters.

But Mr and Mrs Hussain say during their four years at the shop, they have been increasingly unable to compete with the low prices offered by supermarkets and filling stations on goods such as sweets and cigarettes.

Mr Hussain, 43, said: "I'm running at a loss. The supermarkets are now cheaper than the cash-and-carry, and I can't really buy items from the supermarkets to sell here."

In an attempt to keep the shop going, Mr Hussain put cash from his own pocket back into the business, and Mrs Hussain had to take up a newspaper round. But working a 15-hour day with no holidays except for Christmas Day has taken its toll on the family.

Mrs Hussain said she felt the education of their five children was suffering.

The shop's closure has also proved a sad loss to the community.

Mr Hussain said: "There's a farmer who regularly comes in, who says he's been coming in this shop for the past 43 years."

The shop was also approached by a researcher looking into the history of businesses in the village.

Mr Hussain said the family - and in

particular the children - loved living in the village since they moved there from Bradford, and intend to stay in Menston.

"We will miss everyone, and they will miss us. The people are very friendly," he said. He added that he may consider setting up a

different type of business in the future.

The shop's closure has also raised fears that other local businesses are coming under greater pressure to compete with bigger chains.

Ilkley parish councillor Audrey Brand said: "Its seems such a shame. The smaller shop is being cut out. Some garages have everything you could think of, including cash machines. They're being a bit greedy."

She said elderly residents would find it increasingly difficult if their local shops are forced to go out of business.