AN entertainer left in limbo hopes to get his guitar back as early as next week after the shop where it is being displayed closed suddenly with the instrument locked inside.

The doors of Cranes Music in New Street, Worcester, are closed and locked after staff there served customers for more than 30 years

The shop is still described as active on Companies House with Stephen Grice listed as the director. 

However, John Cooke says he has since been in touch with an agency dealing with the situation and hopes to pick up the guitar next week, expressing his sorrow at what happened to Cranes.

Worcester News: John Cooke outside Cranes Music in New Street in Worcester John Cooke outside Cranes Music in New Street in Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

The 71-year-old said: "I have been in touch and sent in proof of ID and my receipt and they're going to get back in touch.

"It's really sad that the business has closed down after all this time and great service."

READ MORE: Cranes Music closes suddenly and mysteriously 

The entertainer plays under the name 'You are my sunshine'.

"Without my audience, which is my sunshine, I'm always in darkness," he said, describing how important music was to mental health.

As previously reported, the building's owner, Adam Giagnotti who is the director of the Olive Branch, is now looking to rent out the Cranes premises again.

He is not connected to the management of Cranes Music itself.

We have reported in 2006 how under managing director Steve Grice there was a Yamaha Music School based at the store.

Under the umbrella of Worcester Academy of Music, the shop taught 500 students a week and offered courses in keyboard, piano, guitar, contemporary singing and drums.

Mr Cooke arrived on Wednesday morning to try and get his guitar back after previously posting a letter through the shop's letterbox.

Mr Cooke said his Martin DRS1 electric-acoustic guitar was in the shop on a sale or return basis after he took it in two weeks ago.

"Last Monday I came to the shop and it was in darkness.

"I started panicking and I reported it to the Citizens Advice Bureau," he said.

He paid £629 for it on July 3 last year from Guitarguitar in Glasgow but was selling it at Cranes for £549. The shop takes a 25 per cent cut of the sale, he said.

We have approached Cranes Music for a comment.