BLACKBURN town centre was today dealt a major blow as the town's C&A store announced it is to close.

The firm said the store, which employs 23 people, was one of six it had decided to shut across the country.

Efforts are now being made to attract a new name to the shopping centre, with Woolworth already being linked with the site.

C&A said the Blackburn store, on Cobden Court, would close "some time after January 1999".

The announcement follows a review of the company's 100-plus stores.

"The conclusion was that six of our stores do not warrant further investment in being modernised and must therefore be closed," said company spokesman Chris Williams.

"It is with great regret that our store in Blackburn is one of these."

He said efforts would be made to offer employees jobs at its other stores in the North West if vacancies were available. "Where this is not possible a generous redundancy package will be offered together with help to find alternative employment."

The firm is now trying to find a buyer for the store and said it would not close until one had been secured.

It is believed that the store, which opened 16 years ago, had not been trading well for several years.

Blackburn Shopping Centre manager Victor Parfrement said today he hoped a new tenant would be found for the store as soon as possible.

"Obviously we are sad that C&A are closing but understand it is part of a restucturing throughout the chain," said Mr Parfrement.

"The recent opening of TJ Hughes has provided a major boost to that area of the shopping centre and hopefully that will attract a new neighbour there."

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