A STALLHOLDER who runs an accessories stand in a busy shopping centre is facing closure after being made to strip her stall of all jewellery following alleged complaints from a rival major chain.

Megan Neville, 48, who opened jewellery stall, Putting on The Glitz, on the first floor of The Mall St George's, Fishergate, Preston on May 16, with husband Robert, claims bosses at nearby Claire's Accessories used 'bully boy' tactics to stop her selling jewellery.

The mum-of-three said bosses of the teenage accessories chain, which operates opposite, complained to shopping centre managers during her first week of trading, claiming their takings had dipped as a result.

She said centre managers told her she had to halve jewellery stock on her stall and replace it with watches.

Now, she says, she has been given an ultimatum by managers at the centre to stop selling jewellery altogether or pack up and go.

But, she claims, it was senior managers at Claire's who told bosses at the centre that she had to stop selling jewellery.

"It's disgusting that one shop can dictate to the management," said Mrs Neville, from Burnley.

"You take a massive leap of faith, starting up a new business, and we'd managed to make it work. At first I was told there'd been complaints about us selling jewellery and then later we were told it was Claire's who weren't happy because their takings were down.

"They left me with no choice."

Mrs Neville, who has three children, Louise, 22, Amy, 20 and Christopher, 19, said Claire's Accessories refused to negotiate.

"It wasn't good enough that we changed our stock by 50 per cent and when I offered to move to another stall they refused that too," she said.

"I'm nervous it won't work but we'll have to look at other places in the North West if it doesn't.

"I chose Preston because it is a bustling city with huge potential and The Mall seemed to support independent traders. This doesn't seem to be the case and it will finish having the same shops as everywhere else."

Carol Lowde, general manager, said: "The Mall St George's is committed to providing a great retail mix for Preston shoppers.

"We encourage independent retailers to operate from retail merchandise units, offering a range of specialist, and often unique, goods. We cannot comment on the circumstances of individual tenants."

Claire's Accessories declined to comment. The multi-national company, which was founded in the US, has 475 outlets in the UK.