Jessops has decided to axe its used equipment service, blaming a ?rapid decline? in demand and a big drop in people wanting to part-exchange.

Responding to an enquiry from an AP reader a spokesman for the company told us last night: ?The continued growth of digital photography has led to a rapid decline in levels of consumer demand for used equipment and there is every expectation that this decline will continue.?

Jessops claims there has been a ?significant drop? in the number of people looking to part-exchange their used equipment for a new camera – making it more difficult to offer a ?viable used equipment range?.

The move comes just days after we exclusively revealed the imminent closure of Jessops? only store in the UK dedicated to classic camera equipment. The shop on Great Russell Street in London, which sells vintage and collectable gear, has gone on sale with no current plans to replace it (see AP website news 28 March 2006).

More details soon.

? The second series of Paparazzi – a documentary following photographers working for London-based celebrity picture agency Big Pictures – begins tonight on BBC1 at 10.35. Subsequent episodes are due to be screened on Wednesdays at 10.40pm.