BOLTON desperately needs some big High Street names to boost its ailing shopping centre.

The news that fashion giants Zara and H&M have signed up to open outlets in the redeveloped Market Hall, alongside the likes of Starbucks, Principles, Lush, Warehouse and Office, will delight many.

Quite rightly, however, many will still bemoan the loss of the traditional market stalls, and point out that it would have been more advantageous had these stores been persuaded to fill some of the many gaps left by shops that have closed down in the town centre.