Boots has backed out of a bid to open a 100-hour pharmacy in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, after local contractor Barry Shooter complained the move would "annihilate" his business.

Mr Shooter had pledged to "carry on fighting" until the health and beauty giant dropped its plans to open in the village, where just 2,059 patients are registered on local doctors' lists. "We only dispense 4,800 prescriptions a month, so having a 100-hour pharmacy nearby would not be viable," said Mr Shooter, owner of Barry Shooter Pharmacy on Aldeburgh High Street.

Boots backed out of its 100-hour bid after discussing the situation with "the local PCT and key members of the Aldeburgh community"

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Boots has now withdrawn its application to open a pharmacy in the area, but told C+D it still had "a long-term interest in serving the local community". "We have discussed the situation surrounding our application with the local PCT and key members of the Aldeburgh community and have come to an agreement to withdraw our application, while maintaining a long-term interest in serving the local community," a company spokesperson said.

Mr Shooter welcomed the news and praised Boots for listening to his argument. "It's nice to know that big companies can and do listen and are flexible enough to change their minds," he said. "I think Boots realised they would be opening for minimal benefit and they knew I was a loyal customer of [their wholesaling arm] Alliance Healthcare."