IT was the end of an era for shoppers Michael and Monica Hargrave as they became the last-ever customers to leave through the doors of Burnley's Pioneer Co-op.

Saturday was the final day of opening for the store, ending the Co-op's 130-year stay in the town, and saw hundreds of customers take a final glimpse at their regular shopping haunt.

Michael and Monica, from Palatine Square, Burnley, have been using the store at least twice a week since it opened in 1982 as a Co-op Leo's and said they wanted to make a final farewell trip to the shop they have grown to know and love.

Bosses decided to pull the plug on the shop because of a lack of trade.

Monica, 61, said she brought her 93-year-old mother to the opening of the popular store almost 20 years ago and was saddened by its closure.

She said: "It's so sad to see it go. It's a traditional shop in this area and it's very popular, especially with older people who have been coming here for so long.

"There are lots of other places to shop, but this is nice and small and it's handy. I really like the Co-op brands and my mum will be really disappointed. I'm going to have a job finding something else she likes now.

Monica said it was the staff that made the store such a welcoming place and she'd be going there so long she'd got to know most of them on a personal basis.

She said: "I could probably tell you when and where all their children were born."

Her husband Michael, 66, said he wasn't looking forward to the prospect of finding somewhere else to buy his groceries: "We are searching for somewhere else to go at the moment but it's going to be very difficult to find something that matches up to this."

Another saddened customer was Felicity Lewis, 28, of Moore Street, Burnley, who said the Co-op was the first shop she visited after coming over from South Africa three years ago. She said: "It's really sad that it's closing down. A lot of people used to do their shopping here and a lot of them will miss coming here."

Former member of staff, Lynda Walton, 49, spent her last working day at the shop the day before it closed and said it was a sad occasion for everyone associated with the company: "I've worked here 13 years and it's really sad now. We are like one big family. We are all getting together later this month to have a big leaving party."

Pensioner Josie Tarren, 75, of Dunoon Street, Burnley, had been shopping there since it opened and said: "It's very sad because I've got that used to coming here. I used to shop at the one on Gannow Lane many years ago, but that one closed down as well."

Dave Cardwell, 28, of Laithe Street, Burnley, had only been doing his shopping there for a year but said he could not believe it was closing.

He said: "I'm gutted. I don't like any other supermarkets. I can't believe it's going."