A popular Ammanford newsagent has announced it is to close at the end of this month.

The joint owner of Arcade News confirmed the shop will close on Saturday, March 30 as he said the town was "getting quieter".

Gerald Thomas and his wife Denise have owned Arcade News for almost two decades, but says his store and other businesses in Ammanford town centre are bringing in fewer customers every year.

He believes the number of retail parks offering more affordable parking options outside the town centre has also had an impact on the number of people shopping in Ammanford.

Mr Thomas said: “It's very disappointing. It was a big decision to take but something that needs to be done.

“The town is getting quieter and quieter. People have to pay for parking here. Monday to Wednesday from 10am-2pm, parking is free of charge. During the other hours the traffic warden is more active.”

In a Facebook post, the pair also wrote: “It was with a heart filled with sadness that we announce the closure of Arcade News on March 30.

“The last few years have had a tremendous impact on small businesses, and we have seen a decline in trade and footfall in Ammanford year on year. It is sad to see that with every shop closure in Ammanford, there are fewer reasons for people to come into town especially when large retail parks draw in huge numbers.

“We have been lucky to own Arcade News for nearly 16 years and are hugely proud of our work in the community. We delivered to newspapers, magazines and sweet boxes to hundreds of homes.

“We have provided many young people with their first jobs as our paper boys and girls, and we have been fortunate to be the place to go for an after school sweet treat for many school children.

“So, we’d like to thank everyone for their valued custom during the last 16 years. It will be a sad farewell to many of our regular customers, but it is time to move onto pastures new.”

Members of the local community expressed their sadness at the closure on Facebook.

“This place has been there for as long as I can remember,” wrote Rosie Tully.

Terry Bishop posted: “Sorry to see this. Good old times zooming around on my bike delivering papers for you and spending most of my wages on sweets.”

“So sad to hear the news,” said Alison Rees.

“You used to deliver to my mum in Llandybie before she died, and I always remember waiting for her in the car park while she went to the shop to pay for the papers. Thank you for always providing such an excellent service.”

The upcoming closure of Arcade News comes after Poundstretcher shut down its Ammanford store on January 25, less than three years after it opened.