Last-ditch plea to customers

Struggling businessman Dave Morris has made a last-ditch plea to customers to use or lose their hardware shop.

Mr Morris says he has exhausted all his finances in a desperate bid to save his DIY store, Concorde Woodcrafts in Stourton, near Stourbridge, before it falls victim to the credit crunch.

The 33-year-old from Kates Hill, Dudley, set up his first business two years ago.

But he has now been forced to resort to desperate tactics and put 'use us or lose us' signs outside the home and garden shop after a downturn in trade. He is hoping the message, which can be clearly seen by motorists driving along the Wolverhampton Road, will bring shoppers back.

Mr Morris said: "I've exhausted all my finances trying to keep it going. It's been a struggle from the start. We have never borrowed any money. But now with the credit crunch on banks just aren't willing to lend.So I've got signs up now, saying 'use us or lose us'. It's just a last minute plea."