A new bookshop has opened in Radlett.

Segrue Books, in Watling Street, is one of a very few number of bookshops within Hertsmere and surrounding boroughs.

Owners David and Amanda Segrue decided to open the new shop after the number of book-buying outlets in the country declined.

Mr Segrue, 43, of Blattner Close in Elstree, said: “The response from the people has been amazing. Many of them have said it is good to have a bookshop in the area again.

“I was standing in the bookshop when it opened and I just thought what a lovely it was that people were coming in to browse and look for books.

“Most of our customers have been local to Radlett but we are hoping to get the word out to surrounding areas including Bushey, Elstree and Borehamwood.

“There are lack of bookshops in the area and country. At least 600 bookshops have closed in the past 10 years.

“There is nothing in Watford or Borehamwood and the closest Waterstones is in St Albans but that is very difficult to get to for a 20 minute look around a bookshop.”

Mr Segrue, who has worked in publishing for 25 years, believes people still like to have the physical book to hold.

He also believes over the last three years the fad of the Kindle, which people said it would be the death of the physical book, has stopped and people are over it now.

He said: “I understand the appeal of a Kindle if you are travelling but it seems more and more people are going back to buying physical books.

“The sale of children’s books has sky rocketed. Parents have children who are constantly using technology on a daily basis and the book is an escape from that.

“Also the quality of children’s and adult books has grown over the last six or seven years.”

The bookshop has a range of brand new books ranging from fiction to non-fiction through to history books and also sells coffee for those who want a quiet afternoon reading their favourite book.