BARROWFORD and Barnoldswick, and its independent traders, have the most to cheer from a new retail survey in Pendle.

Vacancy rates for the two locations are the lowest in the borough, says the study for 2010.

With only the former petrol filling station site in Gisburn Road, Barrowford, still empty, the vacancy rate is 2.2 per cent there.

And the level of empty shops in Barnoldswick has steadily improved.

Meanwhile, nearly 20 per cent of Nelson’s retail space is unused – and this was before the closure of Argos.

The survey also found the amount of non-shopping uses had risen in the middle of Colne and Earby.

While the highest vacancy rate was recorded in Brierfield, a number of smaller traders have opened along Colne Road.