Another business in Ayr is to close its doors permanently this weekend.

Pine Marten Plants, situated just off Newmarket Street have announced that they are closing their Ayr store, leaving the business with just one shop remaining, in Largs.

Founder Reece Ewart blamed the store's demise on the reduction in the number of other shops in the area, with recent closures meaning less footfall through the street.

In the past three years, Ayr town centre has lost Hourstons, a Debenhams, an Edinburgh Woolen Mill, a Top Shop/Topman, Bonmarche, 1517, the Kyle Centre (and the independent shops therein), and others. 

Mr Ewart said: "Pine Marten Plants will be closing due to the recent closures of five stores in Newmarket Street."

He called for more to be done to support local independent businesses like his.

Mr Ewart said he thought the Ayr site would work well, with the business being able to offer cheaper prices than gardening chain Dobbies, on the outskirts of the town.

But he said that shops moving from the high street and instead pitching up in places like Ayr Central, as Superdrug and Unique have done recently, means fewer people are visiting shops in other locations.

This sentiment was echoed by Adam Short from The Fish Cross Traders Association, who said: "Times are extremely hard for everyone, but with so many businesses closing their doors at the north end of the High Street, either due to a shortfall on traffic or to relocate their business in the hope of increased custom (mostly larger organisations that can afford the move), small local business is most affected as they rely on the traffic generated by the local community."

The future of other shops looks uncertain too, with a 'For Let' sign currently above the GAME store and Clinton Cards on High Street.

The Works in the same street has a 'Closing Down' sign in the window.

"We know some of you may be saddened by the recent closures of small businesses in Ayr," Mr Ewart said, "and we believe strongly that the council needs to redevelop the town to support local business and not just larger business on the main High Street and Ayr Central.

"There is no incentive to keep our store and we're looking forward to the future, feeling lucky to get out before it is too late."

The store only opened in May last year, after success online and then in the Largs site led to expansion plans and the opening of their South Ayrshire branch.

Pine Marten Plants are having a closing down sale with items reduced to 50 per cent off to try and shift the stock before they shut for good on Saturday, January 15.