A NEWSAGENT has warned the new branches of Tesco and Primark could kill off smaller shops in Bournemouth town centre.

John Dickins said he has already laid off one person and cut the hours of the remaining seven staff.

The 58-year-old from Square News on Richmond Hill said larger stores like Next could also close.

He spoke out after Tesco and Primark’s arrival helped boost January footfall by 24 per cent after months of poor figures.

He said: “There are a lot of positives but negatives too. The biggest danger is that it will clobber small shops.

“In two or three years, we will have at least half a dozen shops boarded up in Old Christchurch Road and Commercial Road.

“People will only take notice when one of the big boys close, like Next, because they are more expensive than Primark.

“One of the reasons people like shopping here is that there are a lot of small, independent shops.

“If they go, we just end up looking like any town.”

He said his trade was cut by 13 per cent in the four weeks after Tesco opened in Bourne Avenue during January.

He was selling a carton of milk for 65p and Tesco started selling them at 45p – yet it cost him 46p to buy milk.

He said he was forced to cut orders to his Charminster-based sandwich supplier – which then went bust. Mr Dickins’ shop has been trading for more than 40 years, mainly under owner Geoff Baines.

Nigel Hedges from Bournemouth Chamber of Trade said: “If you get competition, you raise your game.

“Primark and Tesco are now involved with the town centre management board and they will be contributing to the town in many ways.

“We value our independent members and it’s in our hands as customers – if you appreciate a trader is a one-off, they will appreciate your support.”

Next said it does not comment on how stores trade.

Town centre manager Roger Parker has said the new Tesco encourages office workers to buy groceries before they go home.