HOW very sad to be losing so many good friends from the High Street.

I fear I speak for a dwindling group of people who still like to pick up the phone, read proper books, write proper letters and more importantly, support their local shops. I have valued the help, advice, expertise and patience of the excellent staff at the Castlepoint Jessops, virtually since they opened. It was in a great location on Castle Lane and always seemed to be very busy.

They recently had a re-vamp and their prints were better quality than anywhere else.

As a keen but very amateur photographer, where do I go now to sort out a serious malfunction or to get help with choosing a new camera?

I only hope those people who made great use of their expertise, then, for the sake of a few pounds, rushed home to buy online, will grieve their demise as much as I.

The old saying 'Use it or lose it' has never been more apt!

JUNE SQUIRES, Dunyeats Road, Broadstone