Rochdale hit hard by store closures

Rochdale is one of the towns hardest hit by major retail stores closing, according to figures from a new high street survey.

The figures from the Local Data Company and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) show that Rochdale lost ten major retailers last year, meaning that just 25 remain.

Lancaster fared the worst with a loss of 13 stores in total.

Nationally, UK retailers closed 20 stories a day on average in 2011.

The best performing town centre was Manchester with 61 extra stores, and then Chester with 30.

Clothes, shoe shops, jewellers and bookshops are struggling the most but there has been a growth in charity shops and pet shops, supermarkets and convenience stores.

Retailers such as Pound Bakery, Greggs, Costa, and Cash Converters have reported business growth.