ACCRINGTON suffered a “devastating blow” yesterday when Marks & Spencer announced plans to quit the town’s high street after 53 years.

Bosses at the retail giant finally confirmed the closure following weeks of rumours — and said nearby Rawtenstall offers a “better shopping experience” for customers than the Hyndburn high street.

The 28 members of staff at the Broadway store, which will close its doors in the spring, will be offered jobs at the new Rawtenstall branch or at other nearby stores, M&S said.

A spokesman for M&S said: “We have given the closure of our Accrington store a great deal of consideration and it is not a decision that we have taken lightly.

“The new store in Rawtenstall will offer a much bigger M&S food offer and an improved shopping experience, including free parking.

“Most of all, we want to ensure we are in the best location to serve our customers, and one which is fit for the future of M&S.

“We believe we have found this in Rawtenstall.”

Leader of the opposition at Hyndburn Council, Cllr Peter Britcliffe, said: “It is almost unheard of for a Marks & Spencer store to shut up shop.

“It is absolutely dreadful news — it is the worst news we could have got because one thing we have always worked to do is to keep Marks & Spencer in the town.

“It is one of the reasons we built the Arndale Centre.

“One of people’s main gripes is that Accrington town centre is full of second-hand shops and pound stores.

“Big names help bring credibility to the town.

“I would call on the council to hold talks with M&S to see if there could be any change of mind.

“I have been warning about the council’s plans to move the bus station and stop traffic in the town centre.”

Council leader Miles Parkinson said he did not believe plans to site a new £6.4 million bus station in Crawshaw Street and to close off the town centre to traffic played a part in M&S’ decision.

He said: “This news comes as a complete shock to me. It will be very sad for M&S to close because it has been an anchor store and has been very popular.

“The new bus station would be nearer M&S, which is going through its own review of how it is changing to deal with online shopping.

“I want a quality store like M&S to stay.”

The Rawtenstall store will open in New Hall Hey retail park during the spring — but it will not sell clothes.

Michael Whewell, of Whewell’s Timber & Toolbox in Bridge Street, said: “I suppose you cannot say anything other than it is a devastating blow to the town.

“I have always been led to believe M&S was on a long-term lease.”

Jim Saron, owner of Bailey’s Menswear in Broadway, said: “I am shocked but I do not think it will have a knock-on effect.

“The offering in Accrington is still quite strong.

“But it is a significant blow and it is now on the Arndale Centre’s owners to do what they can do to fill the massive void M&S will leave.”

ACCRINGTON town centre suffered a devastating blow yesterday after Marks & Spencer announced plans to quit the town’s struggling high street after 53 years.

Bosses at the retail giant finally confirmed the closure following weeks of rumours – and said nearby Rawtenstall offers a “better shopping experience” for customers than the Hyndburn high street.

The 28 members of staff at the Broadway store, which will close its doors in the spring, will be offered jobs at the new Rawtenstall branch or at other nearby stores, M&S said.

An M&S spokesman said: “We have given the closure of our Accrington store a great deal of consideration and it is not a decision that we have taken lightly.

“The new store in Rawtenstall will offer a much bigger M&S food offer and an improved shopping experience, including free parking.

“Most of all, we want to ensure we are in the best location to serve our customers, and one which is fit for the future of M&S.

“We believe we have found this in Rawtenstall.”

Leader of the opposition at Hyndburn Council, Coun Peter Britcliffe said: “It’s almost unheard of for a Marks & Spencer store to shut up shop.

“It’s absolutely dreadful news and it’s the worst news we could possibly have gotten because one thing we have always worked to do is to keep Marks & Spencer in the town.

“It’s one of the reasons we built the Arndale Centre.”

He continued: “One of people’s main gripes is that Accrington town centre is full of second-hand shops and pound stores. Big names help bring credibility to the town.

“I would call on the council to hold talks with M&S to see if there could be any change of mind.

“I have been warning about the council’s plans to move the bus station and stop traffic in the town centre.”

Council leader Miles Parkinson said he did not believe plans to site a new £6.4 million bus station in Crawshaw Street and to close off the town centre to traffic played a part in M&S’ decision.

He said: “This news comes as a complete shock and surprise to me. It will be very sad for M&S to close because it has been an anchor store and has been very popular.

“The new bus station would actually be nearer to M&S, which is going through its own review of how they are changing to deal with online shopping. I would want a quality store like M&S to stay.”

The Rawtenstall store will open in New Hall Hey retail park in spring but it will not sell clothes like its Accrington counterpart.

Michael Whewell, of Whewell’s Timber and Toolbox, in Bridge Street, said: “I suppose you can’t say anything other than it’s a devastating blow to the town.

“I have always been led to believe M&S was on a long-term lease.”

Jim Saron, owner of Bailey’s Menswear, in Broadway, said: “I’m shocked but I don’t think it will have a knock-on effect. The offering in Accrington is still quite strong.

“But it’s a significant blow and it’s now on the Arndale Centre’s owners to do what they can do to fill the massive void M&S will leave.”