A prominent high street shop in Ludlow will be closing, as Brown and Francis (Peak) pharmacy is taken over by Lunts.

"This is not unexpected news," says Ludlow councillor Andy Boddington. "Brown and Francis is too small a store to thrive in an age where pharmacies are underfunded by government and the range of services pharmacies must provide is increasing."

Ludlow’s three pharmacies handle around 21,000 prescriptions a year, 6,000 of them issued by Brown and Francis.

"It is disappointing", said Mr Boddington, "that another prominent high street shop in Ludlow is closing. Despite this, it makes sense to consolidate pharmacies in Ludlow to ensure that two survive in tough times in the dispensing business."

A statement from the MSN and Lunts Pharmacy Group with the support of Peak Pharmacy said: "Peak Pharmacy will be selling its Ludlow pharmacy at 49 Bull Ring to Lunts, which will merge with the existing Lunts pharmacy at 116-119 Lower Galdeford. This decision has not been taken lightly, but the changing role of Community Pharmacy and wider financial pressures mean that the Bull Ring site is no longer viable or fit for purpose. The merger of the two sites is designed to ensure that there will continue to be a pharmacy service within this area.

"Through the Pharmacy First scheme, we are now supporting patients with minor ailments that would have previously required a GP appointment. Pharmacies’ premises need to adapt as a result. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the building, the Peak Pharmacy Bull Ring site cannot viably be altered to support the people of Ludlow in this way. However, the Lunts Lower Galdeford Pharmacy site is undergoing a refit to create two clinical consultation rooms and a larger, lighter state-of-the-art dispensary.

"We are happy to confirm that the current Peak Pharmacy staff will be transferred to our site, Lunts Pharmacy, along with all customer details.

" Future plans include a 24-hour collection point for patient medication, for those who are unable to access the pharmacy during opening hours. In addition, the current delivery service offered by Peak Pharmacy will still be in operation for those who need it.