Peasenhall shops cut opening hours to deal with rising costs

Ellie Baldry has run Peasenhall General Store, which also includes a Post Office, for five years

Shop owners in a village say they have reduced their opening hours to save on staff costs, electricity and heating bills.

Ellie Baldry, from Peasenhall General Store, in Suffolk, has decided to close at 15:00 GMT instead of 17:00 during January.

She said it "made sense financially" as trade was "quiet".

The decision will be reviewed in February, she added.

"We have assessed the situation and kept an eye on how many people came in, what people were spending and how much money we were taking, and we just compared it with what we were paying out and it just made sense," she said.

Peasenhall General Store is now closing two hours earlier in January

She has had "a lot of good responses from customers" after making the decision, she added.

"I think with the cost of living at the moment and with the price of electricity, you just have to see what's best for your own business and people can't spend as much and they are not coming out as much, especially at this time of year after Christmas with all the other bills that everybody has."

Emmett's Store has been open since 1820

Mark Thomas from Emmett's Store is also closing an hour earlier than planned, at 16:00 instead of 17:00.

"We go from our peak period at Christmas time down to the slowest month so economically it's the slowest and also on the second front health and safety is an issue in allowing my team to get home during the daylight.

"You've got to look at the cost in the current climate," he added.

Mark Thomas said January is not as busy as the Christmas period

A government spokesman said: "At the Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced over £4bn of support for small businesses and the hospitality sector, including 75% business rates relief, freezing alcohol duty rates, and reducing employer national insurance.

"We're working closely with the industry to tackle the challenges it faces, and we'll continue helping them to grow and thrive in their local communities."