Dixons to stop selling VCRs

Dixons, the UK's largest electrical retailer, has today announced plans to phase out the sale of video recorders by the end of the year.

The move is seen as the first major step towards the death of the VCR as DVD technology increases in popularity. DVD players are now widely available for as little as £25 while DVD recorders have dropped in price to just £150.

Dixons claim that DVD sales now outstrip VCR sales at a rate of around 40 to 1. By focussing on newer digital products, the retailer hopes to bring its customers "the future for less." Sister company Currys will continue to stock VCRs for the "immediate future."

John Mewett, marketing director at Dixons, said: "We're saying goodbye today to one of the most important products in the history of consumer technology.

"The video recorder has been with us for a generation - and many of us have grown up with the joys - and occasional frustrations - of tape-based recording. We are now entering the digital age and the new DVD technology available represents a step change in picture quality and convenience."