Hundreds queue for final sale at music shop

The crowd turned up at Musically Yours, which had been trading for 28 years before running into financial difficulties.

The queue stretched all along Walsall Road to the traffic lights, with only a handful of people allowed in the shop at any one time. Those at the front of the queue pressed their faces to the window in a bid to eye-up their potential purchases.

People began forming a line as early as 6.30am.

Some of the guitars, pianos and other items had up to 75 per cent off.

Peter Matthews, aged 65, of Rawnsley Road in Hednesford, picked up two ukuleles at £5 a piece. They would normally cost £20 each. One is for himself and the other for his six-year-old granddaughter Lucy.

"I'm quite pleased with them to be honest. I saw in the Express & Star about the sale so thought I would come along," he said.

"There is all sorts of things in there but I am not sure there is much left now. I queued since 8.45am today but I think there were some here about 6.30am."

Bosses blamed the recession for a decline in trade and the store closed earlier this year. Liquidators organised the weekend clearance sale. A range of instruments, amplifiers and speakers were all up for grabs. Andrew Sykes, aged 43, from Huntington in Cannock, picked up an acoustic guitar, case, foot pedal, and violin, all for £180.

Usually, he would have paid more than triple that amount.

"I did not think there would be anything left. I am really pleased with these after having queued for a while," he added.

The store, which opened in 1984, closed in May this year. A number of studios above the shop are used by instrument tutors including lessons for keyboards, piano and guitar.

The music school remains open but students now have to use a side entrance and not go through the shop.

Dean France, aged 38, of Wolverhampton Road in Cannock, also picked up an acoustic and electric guitar and amps for £45 instead of the normal £185. "What a bargain" he said. "I'm chuffed to bits." When the shop closed, a sign on the door read: "Musically Yours retail shop ceased trading as of May 24, 5.30pm due to ongoing recession.

"We thank all our customers for their support over the last 28 years."

Council leader George Adamson said the closure of the music shop was a loss to the town.