IT’S been trading as a toy shop for 55 years but the changing retail market is forcing a change at a Carterton store.

Bosses at Giles Sports, Cycles and Toys Carterton wants to divide the shop into three for each of its three types of products.

Partner Lester Giles said: “We are keeping our options open for the future.

“The toy trade has been in decline but the bike and sport trade has increased.”

The Alvescot Road store has been on its current site since 1976, the heyday of space hoppers and Star Wars toys.

But he said: “Children just aren’t buying the same kind of toys as they used to.

“It’s now always iPods and iPads and things like that which we just don’t stock.

“We want to put a wall down the middle as at the moment the bikes are not very prominent in the store but this would make more room for them.”

Mr Giles, whose parents opened the store, said: “The store hasn’t really changed since we moved in and was an old supermarket building so it could do with a change.

“It is just changing the way the toy part of the store is presented.

“We would like to have three separate units and it would create more space in some ways as there will be extra wall space.

“It would be a major change for us and would take a lot of work to get it there.”

He said he hopes trade will be bolstered when a Morrisons supermarket opens in Black Bourton Road. This is expected to happen by Christmas.

He said: “I really hope that will help bring shoppers back into Carterton and give a boost to all the other shops. You would hope that when they come in shoppers will go to other shops in the area.”

A planning application has been submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council for the Giles’ plan and, if the council gives them the go-ahead, the changes would take place next year.

If the council says yes, the store will also go through a major refurbishment.