BRASSED-off butcher Colin Partridge has scotched rumours that he is planning to close down after the parish council heard the village was about to lose its butcher's shop.

Mr Partridge, who has put his business on the market after 41 years, said he had every intention of staying until he found someone else to take over.

"I don't like the rumours that I'm closing. I want to keep on trading and I want my customers to know this," he said.

The future of Powick's two remaining shops, the butcher's and the service station, was important after the closure of the post office and general store.

"I'm trying my best to accommodate the people of Powick by selling a small range of groceries and convenience goods, as well as fresh bread, milk and stamps since the post office closed," said Mr Partridge.

"I provide a free delivery service and I have a good trade here. It hurts me to hear people saying Powick has no shop."

Mr Partridge, aged 56, said he wanted to start working shorter hours, but not until he had found someone to take over the business.

Across the road at Powick Service Station, owner Priyvadan Rughani had hoped to open a new post office, but he has been unable to secure planning approval for the extra parking space needed.

However, manageress Sue Perrins said they already provided a convenience store.

"You name it, we sell it, from tins of peas to stamps, biscuits, newspapers and baby stuff," she said.

"The only things we don't sell are fresh vegetables and meat, which you can get at the butcher's."

Meanwhile, licensee Charles Ellis has carried out a survey to see whether a village shop at the Red Lion Inn is a viable proposition, receiving a 13 per cent response from people who said they would use it.

He has also said he would consider running a post office if Mr Rughani's plans fell through.

Powick Parish Council heard that he wanted to call a public meeting, after being advised by the Vital Villages scheme to carry out further consultation.

"The butcher is about to close, so we will be left with no retail outlet, other than the garage," chairman Andy Lamb had said, at this month's meeting.