THE departure of WHSmith from Barrow has met with disappointment at closure of another high street shop.

WHSmith will be leaving it's Portland Walk property in January, at the expiration of their lease.

The company said the move comes due them being unable to trade viably from the location.

They are one of a number of businesses to vacate the high street in recent years, with others including Debenhams, Bonmarche, Topshop, River Island and Thorntons.

WHSmith said that store colleagues will be supported in the process, and will be redeployed to nearby stores where possible.

The nearest WHSmith stores are located in Millom and Carnforth.

Craig Barrass said: "Yet Barrow BID are threatening court action to small businesses over unpaid fees."

John Mckinnon said: "In 5 or 10 years time, the town will be a ghost town with no shops open at all."

Ron Davies said: "The only thing left in the town will be the Town Hall, unless they decide to demolish it like they have done in the past."

Julie Langhorn said: "Knew this would happen soon. Always dead when I’ve been in. We really don’t have a town anymore do we. I remember when I used to meet friends on a Saturday afternoon and be up there hours mooching about the shops. No shops to mooch about anymore. Sad times."

Anne Morris Coward said: "I had a feeling the other day ,this would be next. What can you say, stop with high rents and get some shops here!"

Junction 36 said: "What a non existent town centre we have, such a shame."

Park Ave said: "If Portland Walk wasn't such a run down crumbling eye-sore due to the inept council neglecting it, it would have more trade.

"Absolutely disgraceful the state of our town centre."