A popular spare parts dealer in the centre of town that opened nearly 34 years ago has closed after struggling to compete with the rise of online shopping.

SAM Spares in Herne Bay High Street shut its doors last week.

Its owner, Lance Middlebrooke, says he has been unable to turn a profit over the last decade.

“I tried to keep it open for as long as I could, but, to be honest, I should have given up about five years ago,” the 58-year-old said.

“I kept it open out of pride really and wanted to keep people in work.

“We tried to provide the best customer service we could, but you can’t survive just by fitting wiper blades and bulbs anymore.”

Mr Middlebrooke attributes in part his recent struggles to advances in car manufacturing, which have increased vehicle reliability.

As a result, he believes the “DIY motorist is fading away”.

“When we opened in the 1980s you could do most jobs with a spanner, but now everything’s plugged into a computer,” he added.

“Cars used to break down a lot more. You’d get a hot day in the summer and on the Thanet Way the lay bys would be filled with overheated cars, and that just doesn’t happen now.”

SAM Spares is the latest in a series of town centre shops, including Maison Classique in Mortimer Street and Pashley’s Cake Emporium in the High Street, to have closed in recent months.

Mr Middlebrooke says he and other businesses are being undercut and losing custom to websites like Amazon.

“Retail’s very, very hard at the moment,” he said. “If Debenhams can’t make it, what chance have I got?

“Amazon is part of that. Some of the stuff online is cheaper than what I can buy from my suppliers.

“The reason there are so many barbers and coffee shops is because you can’t get your haircut or coffee online.

“If you’re selling something that people can buy online, then you’re struggling on the high street.”

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