A WHILE ago we featured a picture of the old Woolworths in Blackburn – which prompted memories of shops which once graced the town.

Food and drink store Booths founded by Edwin Henry Booth in 1847 is still around with stores in Chorley, Clitheroe and Barrowford still going strong. The luxury store closed its outlet in Blackburn shopping centre many years ago.

Andrew John Snape from Blackburn misses the ‘Waitrose of the North’.

The 44-year-old said: “It would be good to have one back in the town.

“It was traditional and old fashioned in its style and appearance. I enjoyed going there as a youngster with my mother.

“If I’m in Chorley, Clitheroe or Preston now, I like to shop at Booths for the good quality range of choice and local produce.”

Another shop that was much loved but still around is Chelsea Girl. Started by Bernard Lewis in 1948 with just groceries and wool, this clothing store has been through so many changes.

After being renamed from Lewis Separates in 1955, it became Chelsea Girl in 1982, when Concept Man was added to it. Finally, in 1988 they both turned into one, as we know it, River Island.

Perhaps due to the demand of online shopping, once popular high street stores have faced the pressure to evolve or close such as British Home Stores.

Littlewoods used to be a huge name in Blackburn but it was forced to shut down its stores after struggling to meet demands. The business was sold to the Barclay brothers in 2005 and then to Associated British Food.

The former catalogue-based store can now be found online along with Very.

One of the staple shops that was frequented had been TJ Hughes, which closed in 2007, in the old Woolworths building, to make room for what is now The Mall extension.