‘So so sad,’ cry shoppers as major discounter shuts popular branch for final time TODAY

DEVASTATED fans cried “such a shame” as a popular high street store with “great bargains” pulled down the shutters for good today.

Shoppers were saddened to say goodbye to the discount retailer Poundstretcher, in Chesterfield this morning.

Alamy

The closure has sparked outrage among locals who are now dubbing the high street a “ghost town”.

One disappointed resident wrote: “High street is dying. There is no fix to it. Get used to it. It’s just a matter of time now.”

While another posted: “Chesterfield town use to be decent. Like a ghost town now, glad I moved away.”

A disheartened shopper added: “Very sad news.”

“The town is dying on its feet which is such a shame,” agreed a fourth.

“This so so sad to read,” said another.

Someone else commented: “Will never get it back, only get worse, going to be a ghost town, just empty buildings”

“Didn’t recognise town last time I went, nobody goes to town shopping anymore,” another agreed.

Bargain hunters were sad to see their beloved branch go, but made the most of their 50 per cent closing down sale.

Posting online, one previously said: “It was absolutely manic,” while another added: “Never seen so many people in there.”

It follows a string of Poundstretcher closures across the UK in recent months, although there are still around 450 stores open.

The company has seen 13 branches given the boot in England since last year, as well as two in Wales and one in Scotland.

However, there were plans to open 50 more stores and generate 2,000 jobs over the next five years.

It comes as even industry giants are falling victim to rising bills and customers with less spending money amid the biting cost of living.

Several brands have collapsed and disappeared from our high streets forever, such as Wilko and Paperchase.

In the latest blow, six major chains including Next, The Entertainer, Iceland, Clarks and WHSmith have shut up shop.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) this summer found the UK had lost 6,000 stores over a five-year period.

The Body Shop bosses have recently called in administrators with a “significant number” of jobs and shops at risk as the brand is set to begin an insolvency processes.

Meanwhile, popular beauty retailer Boots has also sadly announced it will be closing 300 shops this year, following several closures in 2023.

Plus, bargain hunters were be devastated to learn the discount retailer B&M closed yet another shop.