ROYSTON S High Street is to lose yet another business with The Toy Shop set to close in September. Owner Doug Drake is to retire after 49 years of running the business. He said: There has been a down-turn in trade in the High Street .If I wasn t retiring

ROYSTON'S High Street is to lose yet another business with The Toy Shop set to close in September.

Owner Doug Drake is to retire after 49 years of running the business.

He said: "There has been a down-turn in trade in the High Street .If I wasn't retiring, I don't think I could survive in the current climate without changing my business strategy.

"Hopefully things will pick up because I fear for some of the other shops."

Mr Drake, who is also county councillor for Royston on Herts County Council said another problem he has faced is that suppliers favour his larger competitors.

"Lego recently told me that it would not be able to take any more orders for new stock this year.

"You have to buy so far in advance now which is tough when you don't have large profit margins."

But despite the problems Mr Drake said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time in The Toy Shop.

"I'm pleased to think that I've made plenty of children happy over the years.

"I sell quite a lot of model railway engines, and people often bring their locomotives in to be repaired, which I also find a lot of fun.

"I was around when Lego first came onto the market, and I still have the original Barbie doll from when they were first released, so I've seen a lot of changes in the industry.