COMMUNITY leaders have praised a documentary highlighting the decline of high street shopping and its consequent impact on Barrow.

High Streets: End of the Road?, which aired on ITV, followed presenter Geraint Vincent as he interviewed numerous shopkeepers in Barrow on how business has changed in recent years.

Colin Garnett, manager at Barrow's Business Improvement District, described the documentary as a ‘balanced and fair’ reflection of the town.

He said: “I think the documentary was a balanced and fair reflection of our current situation and what a lot of the UK is going through too.

“What I particularly liked about the documentary was that it was people-focussed.

“It showed how by not shopping on the high street, there is a real impact on people’s businesses and livelihoods.

“I think it captured the shopkeepers emotions very well.

“Ultimately, we want a town centre that local people will be proud of and support.

“I hope the programme encourages more people to come into the town centre.”

Among those interviewed in the documentary was the owner of Heath’s Toyshop, Phil Heath.

Mr Heath emphasised the importance of shopping independently on our high streets.

He said: “If you don’t use independent shops it’ll get smaller and smaller.

“Hence why you’re seeing places disappear.”

Donna Jefferson, owner of Funtymz Fancy Dress, revealed she was closing her business after 16 years.

She said: “It was busy when I first started on the market.

"People said I brought new, young people back into the market.

“Sometimes I can be here all day and just the odd person comes in to look around and I think what am I doing, why am I wasting my day for nothing?

“I didn’t think it would get as dismal as this.”

Cllr Derek Brook, Community Development spokesman for Barrow council, said in the programme: “We’ve lost 40 per cent of our budget over the last eight years.

“We need to be more creative about thinking about what people actually want.”