Marks and Spencer has announced it will delay closing its Accrington store.
The high street giant made the shock announcement in December that its Broadway shop would be closing after 53 years of trading.
M&S had originally intended the store to close by May, however the decision has been made to push its closure back until late summer to tie in with the opening of the M&S Simply Food Rawtenstall store.
An M&S spokesperson said: “The M&S Accrington store will be closing in late summer to coincide with the opening of the new Foodhall at Rawtenstall.”
The final date for the store closure is still to be confirmed. Campaigners have claimed the loss of M&S from Accrington would be devastating and could lead to the ‘slow death’ of the town centre.
The 28 staff working in the Accrington store have been told they will be offered roles at the Rawtenstall store and at other existing stores.
Jim Saron, Vice President of Hyndburn Chamber of Trade, said: “It’s good news and bad news really, we’ll have it a bit longer but the it is just delaying the Sword of Damocles.”
