ACCRINGTON music lovers are bemoaning the closure of Our Price after 17 years in the town.
The Arndale Centre shop shut its doors after the company, which ran 106 outlets nationwide, was placed in administration, affecting 800 staff.
The closure leaves the town with no specialist music retailer for the first time in over half a century.
Derek Hoyle, a 54-year-old regular customer, said: "It was the best music shop, in fact the only music shop, in the town. The staff have been treated abominably and Accrington is worse off."
Councillor Brian Walmsley, Cabinet portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said: "It's a real pity that such a good store has had to close after all this time. There will be a big hole in the town now for music retail."
A spokesperson for administrators BDO Stoy Hayward said the Accrington branch was among 31 shops forced to close after failing to attract interest from other companies.
The store's six staff - who total more than 50 years' service - have been made redundant.
One employee, who did not want to be named, said: "We were constantly told that everything would be fine but that's not the case. It's a shame for Accrington residents and the closure is certainly not our fault. We had been doing good business.
"Our customers have always appreciated our musical knowledge and we are on first-name terms with most of them. We got all sorts of presents from them at Christmas."
Manager Julie Collinson, who has worked at the shop for eight years, said: "It's really sad for a profitable shop to be forced to close for little reason."
Lindsay Ormerod, stock controller, said regular customers had been in tears, adding: "People just can't believe it has all happened so quickly. Two weeks before Christmas we were assured there'd be no job losses."
Councillor Peter Clarke, portfolio holder for economy and employment, said: "I'm always concerned when I hear about job losses but more so when the losses are out of the employees' control."
No other occupant has yet been found for the shop.
