IT’s a busy Tuesday afternoon in Colchester. Shoppers throng High Street but at Robert Dyas, it’s quiet.

Inside, there seems to be more staff than customers and what customers there are, are on the mature side.

Overwhelmingly, the passers-by pass it by, seemingly oblivious to its existence.

But the traditional ironmongers has its fans, with some travelling from Southend to enjoy its wares.

  • Jonathan Palmer said he loves its convenience, for it selling the things “Woolies used to!”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

The 67-year-old was puzzled at the thought of it possibly being replaced by a restaurant believing Colchester town centre is “over saturated with them.”

He added: “I am sorry if it is not making money. I do my best for them.”

  • Helen Bitner shops at Robert Dyas for “electrical things, screw things, kitchen things, washing up things.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Were it to close, she continued: “We would be left with no town centre.”

The 80-year-old recalls the hardware store has been around for years.

“How many restaurants do we need?”

Carrying a newly-bought hammer, John Guth, agrees about the town centre having too many restaurants.

He also said: “If I cannot find it in Wilco, they always have it here.

The 54-year-old added: “We have loads of restaurants and we have coffee shops coming out of our ears.”

  • Norman Bone shops at Robert Dyas once a month, buying electrical goods like fuses, plugs and he once bought a kettle.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

The 49-year-old said there are enough restaurants, seemingly with one on every corner.

He added: “I hope they can afford the rates. They are huge.”

  • Helen and Paul Woodyard agreed restaurants seem to be everywhere in Colchester, with the town centre not having enough shops.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Helen praises the friendly staff at Robert Dyas who advise and help as soon as you enter.

The 57-year-old added: “If this closes, people will have to go to Fenwicks, but it’s too expensive in there.”

Terry Harper is from Southend and when he visits Colchester each month, he calls in at Robert Dyas as there isn’t one in his home town. He had just bought a flash light.

The 47-year-old added: “We came here before Christmas and bought our lights here. They were such good value.”

Earlier on, Irene Mitchell and friend Hazel Drew said they were disappointed to hear talk of closure because they like to shop there for household goods, cleaning items, vacuum bags. Like the others, they agreed Colchester town centre had too many restaurants.

I was to take their photo but my camera had run out of batteries. Where did I get some... but Robert Dyas.