Treasure among empty shops

Surrounded by empty buildings awaiting new life as part of the Summer Row development, one Wolverhampton shop is offering an Aladdin's cave of memorabilia.

Seven independent traders have joined together to run their collectors' shop on Worcester Road. Most of them are former market stall holders from Salop Street who have moved on.

They face an uncertain future as it is not clear if their buildings will disappear under the plans for the £300 million shopping centre which is set to transform shopping in Wolverhampton.

Collectors Corner has offered the antiques and clothing traders a chance to bring in the people who are looking to recapture a lost memory. Just last week owner Charles Hughes sold two vinyl records for £120 each. They were the first LPs by the Rolling Stones. Visitors can also find Dinky cars, gramophones and other treasures.

Mr Hughes, aged 50, has owned the shop ever since it was Oldies Records, which moved out four years ago.

He said: "I knew that with the Summer Row development coming I wouldn't be able to rent it out so I decided to do something with it myself. We've each got our own section and stalls and it's much cheaper than everyone renting their own shop."

Mr Hughes is awaiting the results of an inquiry into plans for the compulsory purchase of shops along Worcester Street. Summer Row developers Neptune offered him £80,000 to move out but the sum would not have been enough to buy another shop.

He said: "They may still try to negotiate. It's possible that they might build around us and we'll be able to stay but we won't really know anything for the rest of the year."

At the back of the shop is 21-year-old Joe Smith, a former Highfields School pupil, who has worked in vintage clothing since he was 16. He was trading at the antiques market but along with his co-tenants found times were getting tough. Military memorabila trader Mike Hartshorne, aged 56, said: "We're specialists and hopefully we've got what we need to pull the people in."