Store rocks on in Shropshire.(Media Insider)

Ian Bridgewater started working in Langland Records in 1966, while still at school, became a full-time employee in 1972, and bought the business in 1984.

His shop, just off the main street in Wellington--the longer-established Shropshire town which adjoins the "new town" of Telford--occupies 450 sq ft of space spread over two floors, with vinyl upstairs and everything else on the ground floor.

Specialising in rock, Langland's trade in recent weeks could best be described as patchy.

"We had an amazing week a fortnight ago but the start of last week was dire," says Bridgewater. "We are doing very well with the new Slayer boxed set, the Metallica live CD/DVD set and Black Sabbath back catalogue. Sabbath always ticks over but has improved because of Ozzy's recent high profile. The Darkness were initially wonderful for us but once the album got to number one and became available for less than 10 [pounds sterling] elsewhere, it dropped right off."