ONE of the region's best known butcher's says competition from a supermarket has forced it to consider pulling out of Richmond.

Fawcetts, which has 24 shops throughout the North-East, says competition from the recently-opened Tesco supermarket at Catterick Garrison has made trading in Richmond difficult. Mr Peter Fawcett told the D&S Times: "Because of Tesco and the way Richmond town centre is going in general, we are seriously considering closing our shop there. We have had an offer from Greggs, the baker's, and from a charity shop. Nothing has been agreed or signed yet, but if either deal goes through we will move out of Richmond."

Mr Fawcett added that the Richmond shop was the firm's only "traditional" butcher's shop, in that it was the only one which sold cooked meats along with fresh meat. He said: "The deadline for the new butchers' licences is just a couple of weeks away and we will not be selling cooked meats anymore."

A spokesman for Richmond Town Council confirmed that Greggs had submitted a planning application for the shop.

Coun Paul Cullen, chairman of the Richmond town centre forum, said it was very unfortunate that Fawcetts was considering leaving the town, but the fact that Greggs was prepared to take over was good news for Richmond. He added: "Obviously Tesco will have had an effect on business in the town, but you have to combat that by offering a quality service. Tesco is there and there is nothing we can do about that.