An Upminster craft shop has become the latest victim of the economic recession.

Imagine That in St Mary’s Lane, Upminster will be closing its doors for the last time on November 3, but the owner Emma Godfrey has vowed to keep on trading online.

She said: “Its disappointing and very frustrating, but I am hoping to turn things around online and to make it an internet success story.”

Emma, who runs the store with her mum, Judy said that things had become increasingly difficult over the last six months because her takings had halved.

On top of that, she says that she also struggled to pay rates of �6,000 a year and it was becoming “impossible to keep the shop going”.

Emma says that she has been inundated with messages of support, since she announced that the shop would be closing.

Glenda V, wrote on Streetlife “So sorry to hear that craft shop Imagine That will be closing at the beginning of November.

“Seems small local independent businesses just cannot compete with bigger named companies and the internet these days.

“Had some great times there and met some great people. Glad to hear they will still be around but no longer in the shop.”

Emma said: “People just do not seem to have the disposable income to come to a craft shop.

“We have been lucky because we have a good landlord who has been very understanding, but it is no longer viable for us to keep on running the shop.”

Emma first opened the craft shop six years ago to specialise in card making, scrapbooking and altered art, but she says just two years after opening her business was hit by the recession.

Emma says that she is going to continue to run her monthly cropt days at the Trinity Church in Upminster and is also looking for other locations to continue other regular events.

She said: “It would be brilliant if we could become the next big internet success because we love what we do and we don’t want to stop.

“I am hoping that when things do eventually get better, we will be able to open another shop in the area.”