Tom's Butcher's, of Woodlands Road, Ansdell, had been trading for 24 years.

Run by Italian Luciano Aobanese – affectionately known locally as Tom– the business has folded in the face of stiff competition from local superstores.

"I think since Marks and Spencers and Sainsbury's opened, that put a bit of a dent in it, and Booths at Lytham opened until ten at night and on Sundays," said Tom, 51, who lives above the shop with his wife Jayne, 47.

He added: "It is like trying to fight with your hands tied behind your back.

"It is a sad occasion, there's no getting away from it. The customers were like friends. I think the saddest thing was telling people.

"But as I said the other day, use it or lose it."

The shop opened in 1903 as a butcher's and has traded in that business ever since with a succession of owners.

Tom said he had not had any offers to rent the premises as yet, but he did not think it could viably operate again as a butcher's.

As for the future, Tom has decided to have a "complete change".

He said: "I'm not sure yet. I hope to do something where I'm involved with people rather than work in a shop."

Marion Coupe, chairman of Lytham St Annes Civic Society, said: "In the Civic Society we are very bothered about the loss of a local tradesman. It is a great loss. It is a wonderful little shop. It just illustrates how difficult it is."