An historic Gloucester sports shop will shut its doors for the last time at the end of the month.

Hudson & Co Sports has had a good run on Northgate Street in Gloucester city centre for more than a century.

But it seems the fast-paced world of modern retail has now caught up with it.

John Hudson, the owner of the shop, said that closing the store was inevitable.

Hudson & Co Sports, Northgate Street, Gloucester

"We just don't have the trade any more.

"The whole town has changed massively over the past 20 years. The dynamics of retail has changed massively and people just don't come into town the way they used to."

John is the grandson of the original owner of the shop, Arthur Hudson.

Arthur played in the first England versus France match and was one of the early members of the Gloucester Rugby team. He played for them against the All Blacks touring side in 1905.

Arthur Hudson played rugby for England from 1906 to 1910

It was there that he met Duncan McGregor, who played on the wing for the Original All Blacks.

Together they partnered up and opened Hudson-McGregor Sports in Gloucester in 1908.

The rugby legacy lived on through Arthur's son Gordon, who also played rugby for Gloucester and took over the store in 1921.

Gordon Hudson played for Gloucester from 1935 and retired in 1953

"My dad served during the Second World War so missed six years but he ran it until I took over in 1983."

Having survived two world wars, the disappearance of the local legacy comes as a shock to the system for many shoppers, but John blames the changes in retail for the fall in the store's profits.

"People used to come into town, do their shopping, perhaps have a coffee.

"Now they come into town, have a coffee and perhaps do some shopping.

"When I first opened on a Saturday we used to see people come in and they would have a chat, but online retail has put the knife into the wound."

John Hudson, owner of Hudson & Co Sports, is retiring and the store is closing at the end of March

Despite the closures, John sees a sunny outlook for the future, as he plans to retire, "take it easy" and visit New Zealand where his daughter is living.

Today, Hudson Sports is running its closing down sale with up to 50 per cent reductions on reams of sportswear and equipment.

The store will officially close at the end of March.