Pizza Hut has closed its restaurant close to the town centre in Blackburn.

The restaurant was based opposite the Matalan store and the Ice Arena off Lower Audley Street.

A sign on the door said anyone wanting to visit the nearest Pizza Hut should head to Preston or off the M61 at Middlebrook, Bolton.

The large Pizza Hut sign on the front of the building has been removed whilst the rest of the building stands empty.

The trademark tables and chairs were still inside the building.

The Blackburn branch opened at this location in 2005, with plans at the time to open another on Whalley Banks.

A sign directs customers to the nearest branches in Preston and Bolton

Pizza Hut has had a base in Blackburn for several decades and was located within the town centre itself until new the restaurant opened.

The closure comes on the back of the opening of several new ventures in and around Blackburn town centre.

A number of new restaurants and eateries have launched in the past five years, attracting diners from across Lancashire.

The restaurant opened at this site in 2005

The Lower Audley Street location has its own car park and is part of the Peel Leisure & Retail Park which also includes, Vue Cinemas, Nando’s and Matalan.

The American brand first established in 1958 first came to the UK in 1973 when it opened in London.

It went on to launch a further 700 Restaurants and Delivery outlets up and down the country.