THE decision to demolish the world's last remaining traditional oatcake shop has been described as "ripping the heart out of the community".

The mood was sombre yesterday as scores of loyal customers queued up at the Hole in the Wall oatcake shop in Hanley.

The last remaining example of a shop serving oatcakes through a window is to be destroyed as part of Hanley's Waterloo Street clearance programme; bringing to an end decades of tradition.

Joanne Bloor, of Millrise Road, Milton, has visited the shop every week for 20 years.

The 33-year-old, who is engaged to her boyfriend Keith, aged 49, said: "I used to call here for an oatcake when I was 13 on my paper round.

"I love them, they are quite simply the best in the world. I think I'll probably have oatcakes instead of a wedding cake, I love them that much.

"It's the final nail in the coffin for the area. It's really sad.

"People don't just come here for the oatcakes, they come for a chat and to see friends."

Pam Humphreys, aged 61, a former British Telecom worker of Broughton Road, Bucknall, said: "I'm retired, but I still come here every week. It's got the best oatcakes and the nicest people.

"They're ripping the heart out of the community. I just don't know what's going to happen to the area now, it's terrible.

"I know there's an argument that it has to happen and it's about regeneration, but surely this can't be the answer."

Chris Malbon, aged 34, of Ruxley Road, Bucknall, has visited the Hole in the Wall for some 20 years, and now buys oatcakes for his children Katie, six, and James, four.

The council employee said: "It's a proper oatcake shop here. They use different cheeses and I don't know, there's just something about them. They taste better.

"The staff are friendly and the kids love coming here and I like to treat them.

"You speak to anybody around here and they know this place. It's going to be a big loss. It's not just the shop, it's the character of the area that's being lost."

Mel Wood, who works as a careers advisor, is originally from Uttoxeter but says she "fell in love" with the Hole in the Wall after moving to Woodville Terrace, Meir, two years ago.

She said: "I'm doing an oatcake run for lots of people today. This order is for workmates and also family members.

"I think it's absolutely disgusting that this place has to go. You've got so much history here, it should be being preserved for the future.

"I agree with regeneration, but it shouldn't be at the expense of places like this."

Doug Wardle, chairman of the City Centre Partnership, believes the Hole in the Wall shouldn't have to go.

"They're doing this in the hope of feeding more people into the city centre, but they want to be keeping shops like this," he said.

"Call it quaint, call it traditional – there will be some people who don't know what Staffordshire oatcakes are, and this is the sort of shop people love in their community."

Hole in the Wall oatcake shop to close next month