North Oxford greengrocer ABC Produce says it is the latest victim of Marks & Spencer's arrival in Banbury Road.

ABC says it is giving up its fight to compete with the retail giant which opened a food store in Summertown two years ago.

Kate Hamilton, of ABC, pictured, said that, faced with the prospect of an increase in rent from its landlord -- University College -- and a disastrous decline in business, she had decided not to renew the lease and will open for the last time on August 28.

Ms Hamilton said: "The arrival of Marks & Spencer has seen our trade drop by a third. But we are grateful to the customers who have remained loyal to us.

"I know other shops in Summertown have been badly affected in the same way as us.

"Some customers feel they do not have time to go around to smaller shops any more.

"We have traded in Summertown for eight years. When our lease came up, we simply decided we had had enough."

ABC's closure will affect shoppers who seek out local produce as much of the shop's fruit and vegetables comes from a farm at Kidlington. The farm will now sell its produce through a Summertown butcher instead.

Customer Richard Samuelson said: "It's a sad week for all the customers. The fruit and vegetables are so fresh and the taste so good because it is local produce."

A spokesman for Marks & Spencer said: "We do not think it would be appropriate for us to comment on this."