‘SERIOUS concern’ has been expressed about a town centre after the final store in a shopping centre food court shut.

Papa John’s at the Accrington Arndale food court has shut just weeks after Burger King closed at the centre in Union Street.

The StrEAT food court was opened in the Arndale in November 2013 and at the time was said to create more than 50 jobs.

Shahed Mahmood, chairman of Hyndburn Chamber of Trade, said the closures were part of a wider national problem, but said he was ‘concerned’ for the town.

He said: “It’s the environment that we are in, it’s a wider thing.

“Because it is a small town Accrington in particular has been effected.

“We are working to try and get more people involved in the borough and to invest in it.

“It’s a real shame that the business was not making enough money, I was surprised to see that it had closed down.

“If branches like that are coming and going within eight or nine months it is a big concern.

“It’s about finding the market, there are independent shops that have been running in the town for more than 20 years.”

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Papa John’s joined the Accrington food court in September last year and brought 16 new jobs to the area.

The pizza take-away closure comes after the CPL Foods Ltd franchise behind the Burger King at the Arndale Centre in Accrington went into administration at the end of April and the restaurant subsequently shut.

The food court also previously featured a REAL Cafe.co and a Wuji noodle outlet which have since shut.

It is located inside the former Bon Marche unit which had been vacant for around 18 months before the food court took its place.

Cllr Tony Dobson, who represents the town centre on Hyndburn Council, called on residents to support businesses and shop local.

He said: “Obviously it’s very disappointing to see the Burger King and Papa John’s shut down at the Arndale.

“I’d also like to applaud the owner of the Arndale who put his own hard earned money putting the food court together.

“We hoped it would have been a catalyst for town centre business and it’s disappointing to see another empty unit in the town centre.

“We’ve got a battle on out hands to keep it going and the only way this can happen is with public support.”

Arndale manager Zain Kiyani confirmed the pizza chain ‘had closed’ at the centre but did not want to comment further.

CPL Foods, who are the company behind StrEAT Foodcourt, declined to comment.

A spokesman for Papa John’s said: "Papa John's has closed its Accrington store as the lease in the present location is no-longer available.

"However, we are looking into new locations within the area and hope to re-open in the near future."