Local areas are set to lose their identity further with the rapid decline of the village fuel stations. Once a thriving part of community life, the emergence of supermarkets has meant independent petrol retailers have suffered and continue to remain under threat.

Some have managed to survive by expanding into other areas, such as offering a post office counter or selling local farm produce. According to a new book by photographer Clare Kendal, since 2004, more than 3,000 independent filling stations have closed and the remaining 6,000 are shutting at a rate of 600 a year, remaining they could soon be a thing of the past.

But these are not the only victims of modern day life...