AIRTOURS' bombshell news to staff soon had local businesses beginning to count the cost of lost trade -- while some villagers just said: "Good riddance."

Many shops and pubs in Helmshore and the neighbouring towns of Haslingden and Rawtenstall will be sorry to see the holiday giant quit the village, as staff have helped bolster trade throughout Rossendale.

Some local residents said they were also sad to see Airtours leave, though others were looking forward to an end to the traffic chaos the ever-expanding company has brought.

Marian Sparks, who has lived in Helmshore for more than 30 years, said: "A lot of people complain there are problems with parking, but when you weigh it up with what the company has brought to the village and when you consider we have nothing else, it is bad news.

"It will affect businesses locally because people use the pubs and go into Haslingden to do their shopping.

"Helmshore was a very, very quiet ghost town before they came and it will be again. It's awful. We need these jobs here."

Eileen Read, assistant manager at Musbury Fabrics, agreed: "A lot of Airtours employees come in here at lunchtime and so we will miss their trade. A lot of residents will be pleased in some ways because parking has been a bit of a problem round here, but jobs are more important."

Staff from the Airtours empire, which includes the former Hamilton McBride complex across from its headquarters in Holcombe Road, also make use of local amenities such as Haslingden Sports Centre or swimming pool where the company has negotiated special rates with Rossendale Council.

Many staff also use local pubs such as The White Horse, Robin Hood, Holden Arms and Duke of Wellington for lunch as well as calling in stores for food.

The company have banned all staff from speaking to the media about the move but one worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "This will be a massive blow to an awful lot of people who work at the firm and who live in the Valley."

The employee added: "Staff found out yesterday when a briefing was sent round telling everyone that the company was moving to Rochdale in November.

"One department is to stay in Helmshore temporarily but most people are to move, though the company has assured everyone that their jobs are safe and that they will move to do the same job over there. "It means that people who live in Blackburn or Darwen and had a relatively short distance to travel to work will have twice as far to go, while those people who live in the immediate area will have to travel out of town.

"The news will also affect a lot of people who have children who go to school in Rossendale or who have childcare arrangements here -- though there is the possibility of the company providing a creche at the new site.

"This will affect an awful lot of businesses around here though, and especially places like pubs and hotels which rely on Airtours business as well as shops in Haslingden where a lot of people go for lunch."

But father-of two Howard Scott, 36, of Holcombe Road, said he was glad to see the back of Airtours. He said: "I have had a lot of trouble with employees parking outside my house, sometimes from 8.30am in the morning to 8pm at night. It has been a nightmare.

"I have had lots of arguments. When it rains they won't use their car park and just leave cars outside my house. I got so fed up I decided to block their cars in."

Louise Muskett, office administrator of textile suppliers L Whitaker and Son, also on Holcombe Road, said: "Some people will say 'Oh thank God they're going, now we can park on the road', but I think it is a dreadful shame. We ought to be able to keep them and I think more should have been done to find them somewhere to expand locally. They have done quite a lot for this area and they have provided a lot of jobs."

Stephanie Smith, of Haslingden, said: "Airtours leaving will be a big blow to Helmshore because the company have put the village on the map."

Jim and Julie Walsh have run Village Stores on Holcombe Road, Helmshore, for 15 years. They said: "Good riddance to Airtours!" Julie said: "It's like Brands Hatch here every morning and evening when they come and leave. The traffic is just bedlam.

"We will obviously lose some trade with it closing but I don't rely on any particular customers. People come and go. Last year when my daughter was going to school I had to help her across the road because the drivers would not stop for children. As far as I am concerned, I am chuffed they're going!" Jim added: "They have turned this road into a motorway -- Rochdale is welcome to them."

Clive Flanagan, who has run the garage next door to Airtours for 17 years, said: "The company has grown so much that it has probably got too big for the site here in Helmshore, so the fact they are relocating comes as no surprise. I do get a bit of business from Airtours without a doubt, but the majority of my work is from local people."