WHENEVER a new town centre development is taking shape, inevitably there will be casualties.

This picture, taken in 1969, shows the impressive three-storey buildings on Acresfield which were shortly to be demolished for the town’s controversial new shopping centre which would initially take its name from the site before becoming the Arndale.

The road was closed off and it appears as though the contents of the various offices were just thrown out on to the street.

The main office you can see in the photograph was that of Harper Pilling, at the time one of the town’s long-established firms of chartered accountants.

Do you remember what companies were in the other buildings in this photograph? If you have any photos, email john.anson@nqnw.co.uk.