There is an increasing tendency for shops and stores to refuse payment in cash. This must stop.

Not only has the recent outage shown how fragile the internet is but there are many people who prefer to use cash. One has only to note the use of cash dispensers to realise that.

One local store prominently displays notices stating "Card Only" but then has the hypocrisy to apologise for any inconvenience. This shows two things: They know it is inconvenient and that they have no hesitation in imposing it on their customers in order to squeeze the last bit of profit from their trading.

If the new government will do nothing about this situation, and I have heard nothing to suggest they will, it is down to us, the customers to act by not shopping where cash is not acceptable. This does not mean that we must pay cash. Payment by card is a very useful alternative, but that is what it must remain, an alternative.

Clive Blackmore,

Stroud