ONE of Blackpool's most long established shops is set to close its doors after more than 90 years in business.

Standerwicks China and Glass Ltd is to close its Queen Street store this year, and the current owner says the loss of family and older visitors tot he town has hit trade hard.

Debbie Rowlands, whose family took over the shop, originally based on Talbot Road, in the 1940s, also believes that the once upmarket Queen Street has been blighted by constant renovation work and is now dominated by pubs and clubs.

"The kind of holidaymakers who come to Blackpool now, stag and hen parties, are not here to buy the things we sell" said Debbie.

"Blackpool has changed so much. We don't get older people and pensioners now. We have fewer families, because they are frightened. They are the people who buy this type of thing."

Standerwicks was set up by Ethel Standerwick, whose brothers ran a well-known Blackpool coach firm, also called Standerwicks. The shop on Talbot Road opened shortly after the old north station was built. It was bought out by Harold and Mabel Barlow, who had run a china manufacturing business in Stoke-on-Trent.

In the 1960s, Mrs Barlow and her daughter, Rita Pople, moved the business to Queen Street, then an exclusive shopping area.

"Queen Street used to be a designer street," added Debbie: "It used to be high fashion, people would dress up to come here, which is why the shop moved here. There are very few quality businesses left here now."

The shop is expected to close its doors for the final time later this year.