C-charge has finished us off

A family fishmonger which had been trading for 100 years has been forced to close because of the congestion charge.

Today, current owner David Blagden revealed his heartache in an emotional letter pinned to the window of the empty shop in Marylebone.

Blaming the congestion charge for a 20 per cent drop in sales at Blagden - just inside the zone in Paddington Street - he explained: "It was a very sad day for us all here. Many a tear was shed, by customers and myself alike. With my son Joseph now unemployed the bitter blow is magnified.

"I was a third-generation fishmonger in the family and my son [was] due one day to continue. Independent retailers of any discipline are hard to find in this increasing advance of homogeneity."

Mr Blagden, who served his last customer on Saturday, believes the " disastrous effect of the congestion charge" killed off his business.

"We lost 20 per cent of our business overnight and for two years and two months such a diminution of customer base absorbed our financial resources," the letter reads. "I simply cannot afford to trade any more.

"At the same time this artificial barrier to trade was imposed, a new headquarters-for traffic wardens was sited in Gloucester Place. Paddington Street suddenly became an unpleasant and intimidating place to shop.

"The timing was wrong, the attitude of traffic wardens is appalling and most of all the warden has no appreciation of the economic environment on which he seeks to police. 'The insolence of office', as Shakespeare would put it."

Blagden had an excellent reputation for a wide range of seafood and had built up a loyal customer base.

The letter adds: "There was a knowledge, pride and understanding at our shop that seems to be disappearing from our streets. I feel that there is also a loss to the community, of not just a supplier of food but a resource of humanity for the community."

Among the shop's regulars was East-Enders star Barbara Windsor. She told the Standard today: "It's dreadful. They were a really salt-of-the-earth family and sold great fish. He has been threatening to close for ages I just can't believe he has finally had to."

The Blagden family are now all unemployed.