TWO familiar high street stores are quitting Bridport.

Victoria Wine closed its West Street shop last week and Curry's has announced it is shutting its East Street branch soon.

A sign in the window of the off-licence told its customers "sorry - we are now closed. Thank you and goodbye".

Victoria Wine is owned by Threshers which has a branch in East Street.

A company spokeswoman said it was decided that operating two stores so close together was a waste of resources.

One staff member had relocated to Bridport Threshers and the other two had been offered jobs at branches elsewhere.

Meanwhile six staff at Bridport Currys have been promised jobs at other stores within the Dixons group when their shop closes.

A spokeswoman for the electrical chain told The News that a firm closure date had not yet been set as contracts were still to be exchanged with the new owners.

She said the decision to close the branch - one of the smallest in the country - had been taken after a review of all the company's stores and their locations.

"We have been looking at where we can best site them for the benefit of our customers and staff," she said.

In the run up to its closure the store is currently offering a 10 per cent discount on display items.

Tony Boughton, president of Bridport Chamber of Trade, blamed high rents for the loss of many Bridport stores. He said they often paid on the same scale as shops in Bournemouth but without enjoying the same turnover.

"It is a shame to see empty shops," he said. "I hope these will be filled soon and be of benefit to the community."

Amongst the firm rumoured to be interested in acquiring Curry's Bridport premises is Clinton Cards.

A spokesman for the company confirmed that they were looking into the possibility of coming to the town but he said it was not appropriate to go into further detail at present.