A YEAR after the arrival of a new coffee house in Pershore two independent tearooms in the town have closed their doors.

In recent weeks the Abbey Tearooms, in Broad Street, and Sarah Jayne's Tearooms, in High Street, were forced to shut for good.

Residents have hit out at the closures blaming the arrival of Coffee#1, which opened in the town in February last year, on the demise of the independent tearooms.

It's not the first time Coffee#1 has received opposition as traders and town residents gathered a 1,000 name petition against the planning application to allow the business on the high street.

Now remaining teashop owners have said while they are still doing business they have noticed a difference in trade since the arrival of the coffee house they fought so hard to oppose.

Jayne Brotheridge, owner of The Godown tearoom, in Pershore high street, said: "Basically the town is run on independent shops and that what it prided itself on.

"We believe the council should be supporting the established independent business who have kept the town what it is.

"All the independents have been guiding our businesses through the recession for years and it did feel like a bit of a kick in the teeth.

"We do find it's diluted business. We rely upon the summer and tourist trade. We have our regulars that come in and that's really nice, but it's human nature to want to sample different places.

"We have found a lot of people do go in there.

"We are surviving."

Terry Smith, who has owned Sugar and Spice, also in High Street, for nearly 12 years, said while they wouldn't close they had noticed the impact of the coffee house, just a few doors away.

"It's very difficult because at the time it was all going through and we had the petition going we got lambasted for being against trade," he said.

"It's a sad reflection of the planning that they took no notice of a 1,000 name petition and subsequently the results can be seen.

"We are surviving. We will be OK but the smaller places couldn't handle it, which is a shame."

Despite this a spokesperson for Coffee#1, which is open seven days a week and is part of a small chain, said the business had been welcomed into the town.

"Coffee#1 was welcomed with open arms by the Pershore community January last year," she said.

"We believe that our combination of great coffee, delicious cake and outstanding customer service has been very well received and we have made a strong commitment to the community over the last year by supporting local festivals and events in the town.

"We are sorry to hear some local tea rooms have closed down, but we believe we offer a very different experience to a tea house.

"We have employed and trained a team of eight skilled baristas and hope that creating these jobs will be viewed positively by the local community."