A NEW vintage and hand made goods business has opened up in Pokesdown bringing the number of empty shops in the area down below five.

The Attic was set up by four local women at 872 Christchurch Road, and they are hoping the building will become a community space as well as a shop.

One of the founders, Lynne McCarty, praised Pokesdown Community Forum for their support in setting up the shop, which will sell vintage clothes and accessories, jewellery and handcrafts.

“They have been extremely supportive – Pokesdown is an ideal place for our shop as we are all local and it has such a great reputation for vintage goods,” she said.

“I’ve lived just round the corner since 1976 and I love it here.

“It went through a bit of a decline in the late 1990s, what with the rise of the internet and car boot sales, but lately there has been a real comeback.”

Ms McCarty, Fran Quinlan, Peta Morris-Fowle and their fourth business partner, who asked to remain anonymous, met through Boscombe Vintage Market, and they decided to go into business together.

“We wanted to take it to the next level and get a shop,” said Ms McCarty.

“It is a lot easier when you are a group as you can share costs, like the rent, and we don’t pay any business rates here in Pokes-down.

“We are very pleased with this building, it goes back a long way.

“We are hoping to use the room at the back for events, like art workshops, and days when people can try on period clothes and have pictures done.

“It has been hard work to get to this stage, but hopefully the business will grow and inspire other people to give it a go and fill the remaining empty shops here.”

Pokesdown Community Forum has been working with Bourne-mouth Council to track down landlords for the area’s empty shops so they can be occupied by home-grown vintage and creative businesses.

Over the last three years they have helped fill more than 40 shops.