A bookshop specialising in books written by Afro-Caribbean writers is set to shut. New Beacon Books – located in Finsbury Park – will close on the eve of its 50th anniversary celebrations if efforts to revive the flagging business do not materialise.

The owner blames recent pressures on competition from online retailers such as Amazon.

The bookshop was founded in 1966 by the late poet John La Rose and his partner Sarah White. The shop specialises in works from Caribbean, Black British, African and African American authors. The bookshop also previously published books specialising in black British, Caribbean, African and Asian literature.

The current owners are now fundraising with a view to modernising the shop. They hope to raise £10,000.