WHILE it is always sad to hear the closure of a business in York, I feel compelled to remind everyone that Worm Holes was not the only independent bookshop in the city ("The next chapter", December 27).

The Little Apple Bookshop has been successfully trading in High Petergate for nearly nine years now.

Independent bookselling is undoubtedly hard and not for everyone, although many harbour a dream about it.

I do feel the need to defend the York public who we have always found supportive of us as a small shop.

We find that once people realise what a great ordering service we have and that small can be interesting and appealing they stick with us.

I have been impressed over recent years by how many young people choose to shun the large corporate retailers in favour of independents.

Philippa Morris,

The Little Apple Bookshop,

High Petergate, York.

Updated: 10:11 Tuesday, January 03, 2006