A MENSWEAR store in Christchurch has closed citing “increasing costs and pressures of the high street”.

Edgar & Scott, which has been based in High Street since 2012, shut its doors last week with its owner saying that there was a “serious need” for new ideas and support for the area.

His warning comes as the owner of the now-closed Cheese & Alfies restaurant has warned that the town centre is “dying” because there are too many food outlets.

Tim Nokes, the Edgar & Scott founder, said that he had taken the decision to close the shop and would be “moving onto other projects”.

He said: “I opened Edgar & Scott in 2012 and have enjoyed every moment of my time in Christchurch.

“My family and I have got to know some of you very well and customers have become friends.

“Due to the increasing costs and pressures of the high street I have reluctantly decided to close the shop and move onto other projects.

“I am incredibly sorry that the shop will no longer be here for you.

“I have been part of Christchurch High Street for 10 years in one form or another and have seen first-hand just how rewarding it can be to work in but also how it is in serious need of new ideas, greater support and more investment.

“My family and I want to thank you all for the kind support you have given us over the years.

“It has been a lot of fun and it was a genuine pleasure to serve you.”

On Sunday, Church Street restaurant Cheese & Alfies also closed for the final time with its owner, Mike Calvert, blaming the number of food outlets for the town centre’s woes.

He raised concerns about the number of retail units being “sacrificed” for restaurants would end up “killing the town centre”.

Just under one-third of premises in Christchurch town centre are food outlets with Jane Lynch, head of planning at Christchurch and East Dorset councils, saying that it is capped by planning policy.

Chairman of Christchurch council’s resources committee, Peter Hall, said: “I’m very sorry to hear that they are closing, it was a great business and fitted in very well with what we want to provide to shoppers in Christchurch.

“I don’t know the full details of why they have made the decision but sadly it seems to be an issue which is affecting towns across the country.

“Our town centre manager works very closely with businesses and does a very good but unfortunately there are problems nationally affecting town centre businesses which we hear about almost every day.”