Marlovians are being urged to use town centre businesses or lose them after a raft of shops announced closures in the past year.

Aimee Smith, president of the Marlow Chamber of Trade and Commerce, is urging residents to visit and use shops in the High Street over shopping online after gift shop Huttons announced it was closing its doors on May 20 due to “extortionate” rents, following recent closure announcements by Craft Coop, Costa Coffee in Higginson Park, Thomas Cook and Wimpy’s.

Mrs Smith, who runs Celebrations Party Shop, said: “As a chamber we hate to see anyone leave the town and be threatened by rents and rates.

“It’s an ongoing issue, they are extremely high and we are seeing chains leaving the town so there is little hope for the independents.

“We are doing everything we can to ask Wycombe District Council [which collects business rates] to support our businesses. We will do everything we can to help.

“We are all guilty of jumping straight online because we think it’s easier. We forget who is in town and what they can do for us.

“It’s a harsh message but it has to be said: use us or lose us.”