An Ayr businessman has urged the authorities to do more to support local traders as he looks back on a "positive" first six months in his new shop.

Scott Lambie opened the doors to Oakholme Interiors on New Bridge Street back in March, selling mirrors, wall art and canvas prints.

The shop had previously been used as a tattooist, hair salon and a kitchen studio, but had been lying empty since 2017. 

Scott has revealed he has enjoyed lots of support from the public since he opened, after running his business online for several years before making the jump to a prominent store.

He said: "The first few months have been really good. The shop has been really popular and I’ve had lots of positive feedback.

"It has been much busier than I was expecting it to be for the first few months. I knew it was always going to be quiet to start off with.

"Support from the public has been good. My shop certainly gets lots of attention as people walk past and have a look in the window and admire what is on display that week.

"I get lots of praise and compliments about my own canvas prints, which are created from my very own photography, from the people who do come into my shop."

Despite the positive start, Scott believes more support is needed for high street businesses, in Ayr in particular, to help combat the twin threats of online shopping and out-of-town retail parks.

He explained: "Personally I feel the high street isn’t doing great right now. I think it has definitely seen better days.

"I wouldn’t say it’s a positive feeling amongst businesses. Everyone else I speak to about business, and Ayr in general, all says the same.

"There are lots of empty shops in Ayr High Street right now, mainly due to how high the rent and rates are on them.

"Shops on the high street are just not affordable, especially not for start-up businesses in the current economy.

"There could definitely be more done to help encourage people into the town centre and reduce the number of people shopping online and at Heathfield Retail Park."

Scott is now looking ahead to the future, with a new website helping to boost traffic to his store. 

He added: "I can’t say I have any future plans for the shop at the moment, just to continue as is for now and hopefully have a second shop in the years to come.

"I am always getting more and more new products in all the time so I do encourage people to keep popping in and seeing what’s new in stock.

"I have recently just finished building my brand new website for the business which is a million times bigger and better than the old website.

"Currently I have a promotion where if you buy two canvas prints you get the third one for free.

"This is an in-store promotion only and more details about this can be found on our Facebook Page or in store."