The minister of Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue has urged congregants to be more supportive of kosher shops after the closure of the local branch of Kay's, which a store spokesperson attributed to insufficient trade.

Rabbi Dov Kaplan said the closure meant "the closest store to do any kind of kosher shopping is in Golders Green". Although the distance was not great, "getting into a car and finding parking is an inconvenience.

"We have to learn as a community to appreciate what we have nearby and not to take for granted that it's always going to be there.

"Wherever we find a kosher shop offering a service, we need to make an extra effort to support it."

While the kosher bakery near the closed store would "try to take up some of the slack", the additions would be limited to supervised milk and eggs.