A JEWELLERS on the High Street permanently closed last week.

Ernest Jones specialised in diamonds and designer-brand watches, but it is now empty following the closure. The reason for this sudden closure is unknown.

This week Moshulu, a women’s shoe store and Hawkins Bazaar have both announced closures.

Readers have reacted to the closures with some dubbing it the ‘death of the High Street.’

Abbie Kay said: “Getting into Worcester is a nightmare, the traffic on the weekend is awful and parking is expensive and not very well located if you actually buy anything and have to trek it back to the car. They should have gone ahead with Worcester Woods when they had the chance. I avoid town and would rather go up to Malvern or Blackpole if I need to go to an actual shop.”

Sarah Lane said: “Worcester will be like a ghost town soon, so sad.”

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Tom Fry said: “How many of you people actually used to shop in these places?

"Not many I doubt just here to moan about it, have a browse on Amazon, get you something to cheer you up.”

Suzie Collins said: “I’d love to open a shop in the city centre for my business but just cannot afford it.”

Peter James said: “I can’t shop on a Sunday any more, no buses.

"I suggest all the shops shut on a Sunday and see how the council reacts to that!”

Tina Kennard said: “That’s five shops closed since Christmas.”

Rose Hooper said: “If the council’s put their rents down for all these shops it wouldn’t look like a ghost town.

"Shopping online hasn’t helped.”

Emma Jane said: “As a small independent family business owner I can absolutely agree it’s the rent and rates that are crippling us. We get nothing in return for paying rates, it’s disgusting and you're right it will be a ghost town.”