A CHARITY announced today that it was quitting Bolton's Bradshawgate because shoppers were shunning the street.

Oxfam, which closes its shop next Thursday after 15 years, told the BEN it had to shut because too few customers were coming through its doors.

And today Bolton's town centre manager Maria Appleton agreed Bradshawgate's days as a thriving shopping street had gone.

"Bradshawgate has taken on a different focus," she said. "It has become a success as an area for nightlife and as an administrative base with its banks and estate agents." Oxfam shop manageress Gwyneth Fairbank told the BEN a big loss of trade over the last three years had left the charity no choice but to close.

"It's a terrible shame," she said. "But we're just not making enough money to justify carrying on."

Mrs Fairbank said shoppers had gradually headed for areas like Newport Street and the Market Place as increasing numbers of banks, estate agents and pubs made Bradshawgate their home. Saturday trade from football fans once heading to Burnden Park had also been lost after Bolton Wanderers moved to the Reebok Stadium, she said.

"Old photographs of Bradshawgate show lots of shops and shoppers, but times have changed," she added, paying tribute to the thousands of Bolton folk who have supported the store since it opened in 1983.

Oxfam has no plans to relocate in Bolton town centre, but existing shops will remain open in Blackburn Road, at Astley Bridge, and Winter Hey Lane in Horwich.

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