A VILLAGE which had the ‘best high street in the country’ according to two national newspapers earlier this year is now facing the chill of the economic climate after being hit by a series of shop closures.

Chalfont St Peter was labelled the best high street in the country by both The Independent and The Daily Mail this summer, as it boasted not a single empty shop.

But unfortunately, not even this village is immune to the ‘death of the high street’ as the last few months has seen four shops on Market Place close their doors for good.

Shopkeepers fear bigger supermarkets in neighbouring towns are playing a part in attracting customers away from the village, as well as a change in people’s shopping habits.

At the top of the hill, three shops lie empty, including Kalceo shoe shop, which shut its doors for good last month. This sad trend is continuing as Sera is closing down and will cease trading on 21st December.

Pamela Heywood, a partner in the ladies evening wear shop, said the shop had been forced to close because the ‘faith’ of shopping is changing and more people are shopping online.

“It’s sad and I just hope the village gets some new blood into the town. I think it could do with more variety,” she said. “There have been less people in the high street, particularly up this top end of the high street. If you’re on the outskirts of the village it’s much more difficult to attract passing trade to your shop.”

But even centrally located Chalfont Home Stores, one of the largest shop fronts on the high street, also now lies empty. The once thriving business now displays hand written signs in the window reading ‘Chalfont Home Stores would like to say thank you to those who have supported the shop over the years.’

Nicola Bryant, a sales assistant in Chalfont Savers, said: “I think it’s a shame Chalfont Home Stores have gone. Hopefully someone will come in and do something useful with it. We need more shops to attract more people.

“It’s got a lot to do with Gerrards Cross having Waitrose, Marks and Spencer and Tesco. We’ve only got Budgens here. So people go there to do their food shopping and once you’re in Gerrards Cross and you’re parked up you’ll just go to the shops there.”