AN Atherton fuel filling station has closed.

The Briarcroft Service Station in Leigh Road shut for the last time at Christmas because of "economic reasons".

The site of the boarded-up "Elf" brand station will be cleared and offered for sale, but will not reopen as a fuel station. A spokesman for the Total Fina Elf combine said: "It has closed for economic reasons. The company has done so in the knowledge that they have several others in the area and customers don't have far to travel.

"There are two at Farnworth and several in Bolton."