Campaign to save Travel Bookshop

Now a group of writers and poets are volunteering to work for free, one day a week, if an investor can come forward and buy the shop.

Olivia Cole, a poet and journalist who is keen to save the shop, said: "I have loved the travel bookshop for years, using it whenever I'm going off on a trip, and perhaps even more enjoyably for browsing and daydreaming when I'm not. I will be extremely sad to see it go.

"If Hugh Grant or anyone else would like to buy the business, I'd happily work there for free one day a week, as a shop with a volunteer staff of poets and travel writers could be a real cultural draw.

"Obviously a volunteer staff would make the bookshop a much cheaper prospect for a potential new owner.

Ms Cole originally sent out a message on Twitter saying that she would love to work at the shop for free if a buyer came in to save it.

She quickly got the support of fellow London poet Simon Barraclough, who has also agreed to volunteer one day a week.

He describes it as a place a lot of poets have 'affection for or creative links with' after several of them did one-day residencies in the shop last year.

But, it may be too little, too late, as the book store opened its doors for a closing down sale on Monday (22).

For two weeks, all of the stock will be sold off in a half price sale, before it is closed down for good.

A spokeswoman for the shop declined to comment on the closure, but when it was put on the market, had said: "The owner feels that the continuance of the trade would be best served by selling it on for a new generation to look after one of London's iconic and special bookshops."

So far there have been no firm offers for the premises, but Ms Cole hopes that if more people can agree to give up some time to volunteer regularly, a last-minute buyer may be found.

If you would like to help try and save the iconic shop, email emmaheseltine@trinitysouth.co.uk