I DON'T suppose I'm the only person who is unhappy that Leigh is losing another of its long-established gems.

Prestons, the high-class jewellers, are pulling out of Bradshawgate after donkeys years in the town. They've been there as long as I can remember and I would consider myself as having been a good customer over the years

I couldn't get near the door on Monday for window shoppers looking to pick up half price sell off bargains.

People in the foyer were contemplating if it was a number of well publicised raids that the shop had had to endure that was the cause of the closure.

I'd put it down to competition and the boom in half price and increased second hand jewellery on sale in other establishments.

But as no-one at the shop wants to say why the business established since 1869, is closing its doors on the town we can only continue to speculate.

It's just a pity that the queues didn't form before the announcement so that another shop with status didn't desert us and that the seven staff could have kept their jobs. Thankfully most of them have found new work elsewhere.

Another sad loss.

I also wish B and M hadn't moved from Railway Road to the Spinning Gate Centre. I've never been a fan of malls which I avoid like the plague.