LEIGH'S Quality House closes on Saturday after almost a century of shopping.

Customers snapped up bargains this week in the last six days of trading.

The five-storey Co-op building has now been acquired by Irvin Rice and Partners, who are in negotiation with new retailers.

A spokesman for the firm said: "The town's shoppers have no need to worry. The new businesses will be open in time for Christmas.

"Jobs have been safeguarded and new names will be moving into town.

"I can assure the people of Leigh the building will not be left lying dormant for years."

"The site will be developed as a small retail scheme with two or three units."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.