BARGAIN hunters were out in force at the start of a £975,000 closing-down sale in Bolton.

Brand Interiors has announced plans to close its store at Moorland House, Knowsley Street, to concentrate on other locations.

Customers queued to get a first look at what was on offer from 10am this morning.

Sandra Icke, who travelled in from Walkden, said: “We’ve bought a couple of things here before. It’s a friendly place.”

Once the site, on the corner of Bark Street, is closed, their nearest outlet for Bolton customers will be in Ena Mill, in Atherton.

The premises were formerly occupied by the historic furniture firm Gregory and Porritts.

Last month it was revealed the three-storey retail and office building, known as Moorland House, has been sold for £625,000 to a Chinese investor in the midst of an ambitious council regeneration project .

The purchase follows Bolton Council’s announcement of a £1bn regeneration masterplan, welcoming several major developments in the coming months.