GREENGROCER Chris Mason closed his shop in Devizes yesterday but hopes to still operate a stall in the town three days a week.

Mr Mason said high rent and rates have made it difficult for him to continue to run his shop, Masons Fruit and Veg, in The Brittox.

But he has applied to Wiltshire Council for a street trading licence at the other end of the pedestrians-only street and hopes to be able to set up a stall on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8.30am to 4pm.

He has already received the backing of Devizes Town Council, which voted to support his application.

Mr Mason has run the greengrocers at 16 The Brittox for two years, having previously worked for former owner Jimmy Deane.

Mr Mason said: “I think the rent and rates in Devizes are quite high and it makes it difficult to make ends meet. But I also have another shop in Bristol and the travelling is quite difficult as well.

“I obviously knew what the rent was when I took over and you have to live with that.”

He hopes to hear about his street trading licence on Monday and, if approved, he will start his stall on January 3.