STAFF at one of Swindon's best-known music stores will be looking for new jobs after Saturday.

The three full-time staff and three part-time staff at Duck, Son & Pinker in Bridge Street will lose their jobs after the company decided to close the Swindon branch.

The store, which has been in the town for more 50 years, sells everything from pianos to guitars and from flutes to saxophones.

It will close at 5.30pm on Saturday after owners were apparently told they would be in breach of disability laws if it didn't spend the money to make the shop more accessible.

A notice on the shop's window says that the Bath-based firm cannot afford to make such changes to its premises, which are on the first floor of 15 Bridge Street, above the Subway fast food outlet.

However, Swindon Council says the requirements are more to do with fire regulations to keep the premises safe.

Branch manager Jim Blair said: "We were told what was going on last week, and we put the notice up in the window this week and we haven't been told much more than that. Quite a few customers have been in to say they are shocked about what is happening, and it's a shame especially after 50 or so years.

"I think for the staff here, there is not much point in getting upset. It's happening and we have had to deal with it."

A spokesman for Swindon Council said: "Following building alterations undertaken without proper clearance, Duck Son and Pinker has breached regulations to keep its premises safe in the event of a fire and to maintain levels of accessibility for disabled people.

"The business, formerly run over two floors, now only operates on the first floor - restricting access and means of escape. Swindon Council has liaised closely with surveyors acting for Duck Son and Pinker to find a solution to the problems resulting from the sub-letting of the ground floor.

"Like all other councils, we are legally obliged to enforce these regulations."

The shop used to be on both the ground floor and first floor but closed the lower level to make way for the Subway store last year.

Now customers have to enter the shop up steps next to Subway.

All companies have to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, which was introduced in 1995. It requires that firms should make reasonable adjustments' to their premises to make them more accessible for the disabled.

In the note on the door it says the company would have to pay more than £20,000 to make the store more disabled friendly. Despite repeated attempts by the Advertiser yesterday to contact the firm in Bath, nobody was available to comment.

When the Swindon branch closes, the company will then only have stores in Bath.

The shop holds special significance for many local musicians, who bought their first instruments at the store.

Star Justin Hayward was told the news that he had made it as the lead singer of the Moody Blues while standing in the shop itself, gazing at the guitars.

Duck, Son & Pinker was established in 1848 in Bath by William Duck. He was originally a hairdresser.