AFTER almost a year without fuel Hen and Chicken filling station, staff have spoken this week about the shop's steady decline and about the "astonishing" way the garage stopped trading.

On the A31 at Upper Froyle, the business, which hasn't sold fuel since April last year and closed entirely just after Christmas, is seen by many to be in an ideal spot and should comfortably make ends meet.

However, store manager Ravi Ganish explained that last year Total UK, which the garage was then contracted to, not only stopped accepting small fuel orders but insisted payment upfront which then owner Dinesh Udhayashankar was allegedly unable to do.

Mr Ganish explained that to have a fuel delivery they would have needed to place a minimum order of 45,000 litres, which would cost around £52,000.

"And banks aren't very helpful these days," added Mr Ganish.

Ken Gowans, who used to work at the station, described the situation as a "joke".

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.