Paul Tierney – who owns the George Street shop with his wife, Susan – says most of their trade comes from outside the area.

He puts part of this down to the shop's location on the edge of the town centre, but adds: "Dewsbury offers absolutely nothing to businesses."

Paul and Susan set up in what was a rundown woollen mill in Dewsbury in 1998 after 12 years in Cleckheaton and some time in Harrogate. The business is 26 years old and prides itself on its huge range of high quality toys, gifts and dolls houses.

Paul said: "When we first came here as a specialist toy shop no-one would have given us three months.

"We peaked in 2002/03 with a £1.2m turnover, which was not bad. Since then, China has come along, and cheap imports, which has hit our manufacturing base.

"The retail side held its own until this recession, which is the worst we have experienced."

He thinks local people might think the shop could be too expensive. "But our range starts at 50p. And it is always quality. We have become Dewsbury's local toy shop.

"We have stayed the course despite being in Dewsbury. We have put a lot into the building and it's a local landmark as we intended. But Dewsbury is dying. Even the market for which it was famed is not the draw it once was."

Paul thinks one solution might be to make the market a celebrated multi-cultural facility for quality food, clothes etc.

"People might go for that," he said. "I want to see Dewsbury survive. But it's just awful at the moment."