A SHOPKEEPER posted an emotional message about the loss of our shops.

Onneke Northcote-Green, who runs Onneke in the High Street, Seaford, has shared her concerns over the future of the high street.

She took this series of pictures from near the Jubilee Clock Tower in North Street, Brighton, and in The Lanes and the North Laine.

Onneke took pictures of some of the former shops that had lost their tenants. There are many more shops that were not pictured that are now empty.

The Argus: Shops were forced to shut during the Covid-19 lockdown.Shops were forced to shut during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Then she posted a message saying of her fears for our "beautiful independent shops".

She said: "I was in Brighton today for the first time in ages and walked around snapping pictures of empty shops, this is but a small selection.

"I have wanted to write a post about Brexit, which felt like a disaster that unfolded in the shadow of the last lockdown.

"But I haven’t been able to find the right words. Except that it’s bad. Really bad. What will become of our high street and the beautiful independent shops it houses?

"I gave up worrying about my shop at some point in the last year. I didn’t stop caring, quite the opposite, but I had to say that whatever will be, will be.

"But today seeing all these empty shopfronts, I remembered the importance of beautiful independent shops, full of colours and scents and textures and inspiration.

The Argus: Some closed shops are looking for new tenants.Some closed shops are looking for new tenants.

"The friendly smiles, the small talk, the laughter and the chats. I am very grateful for the support my shop has received in the last weeks but I thought it was still important to share this.

"We do have something to say about the high street, especially in the town we live in. You can vote with your money #votewithyourmoney #independentshops #savethehighstreet"

Many independent shops have been forced to close permanently during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Argus: Many independent shops have shut around Brighton.Many independent shops have shut around Brighton.

This has been due limited trading while being forced to be shut during the lockdown. Some shops managed to survive by trading online.

Shops have been allowed to reopen since April 12 and many have seen customers flock back. Despite this immediate impact Onneke is still worried about the future of independent shops.

She said: “It was really obvious that a lot of places were shutting down, it is something that we have to remind people of.

“A lot of places like Brighton have outrageously high rent and people can’t keep businesses going in that way.

“My thought is that it is really important that we have lovely independent shops. As a shopkeeper you must be really creative to offer people something that they can’t get online.

"There is the added issue of Brexit as prices will have to go up and people have not been aware of as we have been in lockdown.”

Onneke, who lives in Seaford, is calling for people to take time and find out and support their local independent shops in their area.

The Argus: Independent shops around Brighton have closed permenantly.

The 47-year-old, whose shop sells cards, prints and other items and gifts, said: ”I think people can use their shops obviously, or at least know what is in their local town. Follow them on social media, it really works to help connect the shops to people.

“They are so important for the community, I know my regular customers and they come in often, even just for chat. It is so important as people are a little disconnected now, so having that community feeling is important.”