Heather Maskill, who owns the Little Furniture Shop on Wyle Cop, said parking was an issue, but it was the same in towns across the country.

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There, as a symbol it could be done, was 81-year-old Maurice Reeves, the man whose family furniture shop was reduced to ashes in last Summer's riots and who this year re-opened it.

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In Carmarthen the YMCA has taken over an old shop and is selling larger piece of furniture - tables and wardrobes - alongside the china and books.

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But as I keep saying, that old man down in Croydon, can rebuild his furniture shop, so can we - and we owe it to the workforce.

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