A sharp decline in the number of people heading to Abingdon's car parks could force even more shops to close, traders have claimed.

New figures show a 90,000 drop in the number of cars using the town's eight main car parks between April 2004 and March 2007.

It comes as another blow to the town's creaking retail sector which last week saw a travel agents close in the Bury Street precinct.

Meanwhile, it has also emerged that motoring store Halfords is set to close its town centre branch in January.

Traders are concerned at high rents, problems following the introduction of the new town centre traffic management system and competition from neighbouring towns will now pinch even harder.

Nick Cosford, who runs The Gift Centre in the precinct, said: "The situation is getting serious for businesses.

"There has been a massive decrease in the number of people using the Charter car park which is so important for town centre trade.

"Rents in the precinct are high and another increase when leases are due for renewal could see some businesses cease trading. They will pack up and go."

Michelle Simpson, senior sales assistant at Adams Childrenswear in Bury Street, said the decline in the number of shoppers had been noticeable in the last two years.

She said: "On Mondays when the market's on you see more people in town, but the rest of the week can be very quiet.

"Getting in and out of Abingdon has become so difficult that it is putting people off driving in. Shops are closing and not being replaced by stores that people want to go to."

The total number of customers at short, medium and long term stays in all the town's car parks during the financial year 2004 to 2005 fell from 551,741 to 462,084 last year after the introduction of the new traffic scheme.

Numbers for the Charter multi-storey also showed a decline from 290,748 in 2004 to 2005, plunging to 206,880 last year. A three year fall of almost 84,000 customers.

Jane Karpa, co-owner of The Book Store, in the precinct, will now be using the car park figures to try to negotiate a rent reduction with Threadneedle, the company which owns The Precinct.

She said: "This shows that people are not coming into Abingdon and yet we are being asked to pay more and more rent. It is putting independent traders like us under more and more pressure."

The Vale of White Horse District Council said parking in the town was being reviewed.