WORRIED traders are pushing for more to be done to stop shops closing in a town centre.

Several shops in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, stand empty and another will close on Saturday as its owner cannot make it pay.

The shopkeeper at Waltham Abbey Pets, Susan Day, said fierce competition from Tesco and Pets at Home had forced her to close the business she has run for 14 years.

“Tesco is five minutes drive away from here and it stops people coming down,” she added. “There has been a pet shop here since 1959. It's sad that it's come to this.

“Waltham Abbey is a historical town and nothing is being done to promote it as somewhere to come.”

Building work is being done on two of the street's units, while the New Inn, on the corner of Sun Street and Darby Drive, is also boarded up.

Florist Chris Fordham said: “It's pretty desperate down here. There was a rumour that we were closing as well, which we're not at all.

“The council doesn't seem to be doing anything to help us. They got a lot of money when Lidl was built and nothing has been spent down Sun Street.”

Michael Kent, who works at his brother's greengrocers on the street, said events such as car boot sales and antiques should be organised for market days to attract shoppers.

“I don't see what else you can do,” he added. “We're not going to get big stores down here because it's not busy enough.

“Something needs to be done quickly to encourage the people of Waltham Abbey to come down here.”

Gavin Ward, of Henry Ward estate agents, also in Sun Street, is setting up a group where town centre traders can pool their ideas and push for support from councils and the public.

“The idea is that by having a group, we will have the council's support,” he said. “We will get ideas and suggestions together, which we can give to the town council.”

The group's first meeting will take place on February 2 from 6pm in the Sun Inn, Sun Street.