TOPSHOP in Bolton is closing down, announcing a closing sale in the Market Place store.

Topshop and Topman in Bolton's Market Place shopping centre are closing and the shock announcement has left shoppers devastated.

Staff at the stores have put up signs for a closing sale, believed to last until March when the shop will finally close.

The site was the only Topshop in Bolton. The next closest stores are Bury, Wigan, the Trafford Centre and Manchester city centre. It has been confirmed that other neighbouring stores are set to close, including Blackburn's Topshop in The Mall shopping centre.

The store is connected to a Topman on the upper floor of the shopping centre, also set to close. The sale features up to 70 per cent off items and 20 per cent off full price items.

The brands are the latest in a long list to leave Market Place — with Starbucks being another big name to recently depart the mall, saying goodbye in August after 11 years in residence.

Customers were upset to hear the news, sharing their thoughts on Facebook.

Alison Hilton wrote: “Not surprised, I used to feel like I was the only one in there every time I went in. People complain we have no shops, but don’t use them.”

Shopper Kelly Hulton said: “No shops left, pointless going in town now.”

Dave Gardner wrote: “The change to a ghost town continues.”

Both shops are owned by the Arcadia Group, which also holds shops like Miss Selfridge, Outfit, Dorothy Perkins and Evans among its empire. But the group has been battling through a difficult year.

Problems began in May 2019, when tycoon Sir Philip Green announced plans to close 23 stores in the UK and Ireland. The true scale of the Arcadia Group's troubles was then revealed in June, as the business fought off falling into administration.

The group was saved in the final hour, with creditors backing a rescue deal that would save 17,000 jobs. The plan still included the closure of an unnamed 50 stores and 1,000 job losses in a restructure.

This is also not the first time Topshop has closed in Market Place. Back in 2012, the store closed and was expected to remain shut. It was closely followed by Topman in 2013.

The brands made a triumphant return in 2016 and have been operating in Market Place ever since, but now shoppers have been given until March to enjoy the final months of the brand in Bolton.

Other Topshop stores up and down the country have also announced their closure this month. London’s Westfield Stratford centre branch will soon cease trading, along with stores in Aylesbury and Horsham.

Other Bolton businesses have shared shock at the news. Heavenly Desserts, which operates just across the road in Deansgate, has said: "What a shame. Let’s hope the planned renovation brings more people to the centre."