Empty shops in East Lancashire a 'tragic situation'

And they laid the blame for the current situation at the feet of Prime Minister Gordon Brown for encouraging reckless borrowing over the last decade.

The crisis on the high street deepened last week with the announcement that Mercer’s was set to close its store in Northgate, Blackburn, after 169 years.

Unless the business can be saved, the building will stand empty and join a host of other big names such as Woolworths, Adams and Card Warehouse which have all gone bust in recent months.

Coun Michael Lee, executive member for resources and soon to be Blackburn with Darwen Council leader, said: “The most important thing at the moment is to get confidence back amongst consumers and the only person who can do that is Gordon Brown.

“It has been a really difficult situation with Mercer’s and if they could wait a little longer there is a 500 space car park going up next to Waves which would bring shoppers into that area.

“The Mall will be regenerated, the problem is that it is longer term, not immediate.”

Gordon Birtwistle, Burnley council leader, said there were a number of retail units standing empty in the town and the authority was doing all it could to encourage shoppers to stick with the town.

He said: “In Burnley there is a tragic situation unfolding with so many shops standing empty because of the credit crunch.

“We are trying to help and have decided not to raise parking fees for the next year to try and get people into the town centre.

"It’s not easy because people are very concerned and are choosing to save their money instead of spend.”

In Accrington, the town has also been hit hard by the loss of Woolworths, Adams, Birthdays, Card Warehouse, Mark One and the Officers Club, all of which have concerned council leader Peter Britcliffe.

He said: “The credit crunch is ripping the heart out of the high street and there is not much we can do as a council to change business rates for retailers because they are set nationally.”