A Cullingworth greengrocer has shut up shop after 15 years, blaming fierce competition from the supermarket giants.

Bruce Graham, of Village Greens greengrocery, said not enough customers were supporting his small business and, after two years trying to sell it, he had decided to quit.

A sign on the door of the Halifax Road fruit and vegetable shop, which he ran with his florist wife Elizabeth, states: 'This business now transferred permanently to Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's'.

Mr Graham, 57, who used to run the Poachers Table greengrocers in Bingley, said he could see no future for small village shops.

"The customers have gone over the years because of the convenience of the supermarket. I am not happy about it but you cannot go on forever not making a living.

"It is a shame for my loyal customers and I feel sorry for them but it has been my life for 15 years and I also had a funny feeling of sadness when I shut."

Mr Graham said he and his wife had found alternative employment.

Cullingworth parish councillor Diane Marshall urged people to support the remaining shops.

"We must patronise our village shops. It's a case of use it or lose it. It applies to the post office and the local pharmacy.

"Bruce had a super greengrocers and he would have been more than happy to deliver goods. But in the end he felt if people wouldn't use the shop then he couldn't carry on."

Pensioner Renee Fickes said elderly people in the village would miss him and would have to take a bus to Keighley or Bingley to get fresh fruit and vegetables.

She said: "When I found out I felt very depressed about it. The greengrocer gives a personal service and I found his stuff very good. I also liked to have a chat with him and the florist was lovely."

Russell Clare, who runs The Paper Shop in Halifax Road, feared it would have a knock-on effect.

"People who would usually go to the greengrocers and the butchers might decide to do all their shopping in one place instead. We are doing okay at the moment and we do quite well as a village but I could see it gradually affecting us if we lose more shops."

He thought trade could be helped by moves such as ensuring potential customers had room to park their cars.