ONE of Bolton’s most familiar high street shops is closing down after 75 years in Bolton town centre.

Twenty workers are affected by the partial relocation and closure of the joint Burtons-Dorothy Perkins store in Deansgate.

Some staff face redundancy or have left while others are going to neighbouring branches in Bury or the Trafford Centre, it is understood. The Deansgate site is due to shut on Saturday, October 6.

Workers declined to comment yesterday, but signs outside Burtons stated: ‘We’re closing. Your nearest store is at Standishgate, Wigan, or shop online.”

Meanwhile Dorothy Perkins has opened an outlet in the refurbished BHS store at Crompton Place, which has been running for the last four months.

A sign outside its Deansgate outlet yesterday stated: ‘It’s not goodbye.

When we close, visit Dorothy Perkins within BHS.”

Burtons’ parent firm Arcadia has other shops in Bolton, including Top Man and Top Shop in the Market Place.

Arcadia Group had not replied to The Bolton News’ request for information at time of going to press.

Burtons was one of the company’s first flagship stores to open in the North West, using cloth from the mills in Bolton for their suits. Stanley Howard Burton, son of store founder Montague Burton, laid the foundation stone outside the Deansgate store in 1940. Keith Davies, Bolton Council’s head of economic development and regeneration, said: “It’s disappointing to lose a retailer of this stature at this site in the town centre.

“We understand the many difficulties retailers are facing nationally, but we will be liaising with agents for the property to ensure a new occupant is found as soon as possible.”

Shoppers expressed sadness at the news, blaming online competition and rival locations.

Abbie Williams, aged 19, from Walkden , said: “I normally come here with my boyfriend, who goes to Burtons. When it shuts we will have to go to the Trafford Centre. I think shutting this branch will be bad for the town centre — it’s quite sad for Bolton.”

Katie Holden, aged 25, from Edgworth, said: “There are not that many shops in Bolton as it is, so getting rid of one that caters for men and women in the same store is a bit odd.”

Jean Bellew, aged 71, from Great Lever, said: “It’s just another empty shop.

“Everywhere you look there is an empty shop.”