A WORKINGTON business has been forced to shut as the cost-of-living crisis continues to put a strain on businesses and people's pockets.

Strange and Beautiful announced last month it would be downsizing from its previous store, but last week they ultimately made the decision to fully shut.

The cause of the closure was the rising overhead payments and the cost-of-living crisis .

Owners Aimee Hollingsworth and John Hollingsworth said they appreciate thi means everyone is less likely to buy non-essential items; however, they they could not keep up with the bills.

Aimee said: "I'm completely devastated as this has been my brainchild for five years and so much work has gone into getting as far as we did, not to mention surviving a pandemic.

"We are quite disappointed that there isn't more help out there for small, family-run businesses bringing revenue into town, especially with the high street being in the state that it is already.

"There won't be anywhere to shop soon."

Aimee and John set up a GoFundMe to help pay the rates but unfortunately there was a large shortfall which meant the money could not be raised in time.

Aimee said: "We know there's a fairly large alternative subculture in West Cumbria and we like to think we brought something to town that they enjoyed and felt it was a safe place to go to.

"Hopefully at some point in the future, we may be able to start up again as we have many valued customers who find it difficult to buy what we sell, other than online."