Music lovers will be devastated to learn that Beanos is finally closing its doors.

After 30 years of selling records, the legendary second hand shop on Middle Street will be closing after Christmas after all the stock has been sold.

In an email to regular customers owner David Lashmar blamed the fall in business on the availability of illegal downloads and pirate internet sites.

He wrote: "How the devil were we ever going to persuade people that it was a really good idea to come into Beanos and buy an album when they could get it for nothing?"

Mr Lashmar was forced to close the top two floors of the shop in 2006 after he realised that he was losing money.

Only a massive outpouring of local support stopped him from shutting down the entire shop.

The spirit of the Beanos will live on as Mr Lashmar plans to set up a market place in the Middle Street building.

He wrote: "So, although Beanos as a record dealer will disappear fairly soon, its spirit will live on in Market Place as this will be run with the same flair and incorporate a lot of the design ideas that made us so famous."