A music fan is hoping for a vinyl revival in Southend after opening up the town centre’s only independent record store.

Richard Onslow, who has been in the music industry for the past decade, wants to take advantage of a resurgence of people buying 12in discs after opening up South Record Shop, in Queens Road.

Popular independent store Golden Disc closed down on the same road last year, while music giant HMV has had well-documented woes.

But that has not stopped Mr Onslow, originally from Canvey, from going into business, with his store offering classic second hand vinyls, plus all the latest albums on 12 inch, as well as CDs.

He said: “All you seem to hear about are record stores closing down so we’ve done the opposite.

“It’s a typical record shop and it’s nice to have something like this back in Southend.

“There’s a lot of young people getting into vinyl and people treasure those kinds of records.

“Since Golden Disc closed down I always thought it was a shame there were no record shops in the town centre.”

The store will offer most genres of music and Mr Onslowwill bring a decade’s worth of experience with him into his business.

He has worked with the biggest names in music, such as the White Stripes and Kerry Perry, during stints acting as s PR for major record labels EMI and XL Records.

Last year in Britain, just under a million vinyls were sold, the highest number for 14 years.

Mr Onslow said new albums such as Arctic Monkey’s latest effort, ‘AM’, were proving popular on 12 inch.

Shoppers were impressed by what the store offers to Southend’s town centre.

Liam Watkins, 17, from Canvey, said: “Southend used to be well known for its music scene so it’s nice to have shops like this that recapture it.

“It’s refreshing to have this kind of store in town because the only other option is HMV and that isn’t just a music shop anymore.

“I don’t have a big record collection, but vinyls let you savour the music.”

Oliver Tuohey, 18, of Rayleigh, added: “There isn’t a music shop in Rayleigh so it’s good that this has opened up, and there’s not many places around here where you can buy vinyl.”

The shop is open seven days a week – 10am to 7pm Mondays to Saturdays and 11am to 4pm on Sundays