THE announced closure of the former Whitakers’ store really does feel like a major retail blow for Bolton town centre.

You felt that while Beales department store stood firm in all its handsome black and white glory on Deansgate, some of the old flavour of the town centre remained. Now, this store shuts its doors next January following problems over rental terms after the building’s landlords went into administration.

It only seems like a blink in time that our town centre was bristling with independent stores - Whitakers and Whiteheads, with “Pot” Bailey’s and Redman’s among the brilliant Market Hall shops along with the florists, butchers and cheese stalls.

Today, chain stores rule, along with pound shops and e-cigarette stores. It’s by no means the end of the story for the town centre with Market Place investment spearheading the way forward, but it’s still OK to feel a bit sad.