ICONIC Middlewich shop Brooks and Bostock Jewellers will be closing down after around 50 years in the town.


The shop has been a popular mainstay of Wheelock Street since the 1960’s and now a lack of trade in the town has forced the owners to shut up shop and take yet another business off the once-bustling street.


Mr Garner, a shop assistant at Brooks and Bostock, said: “Trade is not good in the town and that’s about it really. It’s difficult for locally owned shops but I think even multiples won’t want to come here.”


“If you had a tommy gun most days in Middlewich you wouldn’t be had up for murder because there’s nobody about.


“All of the shops that were here have gone off somewhere else so there’s no town centre anymore, that’s the problem, and the internet as well doesn’t help.


Jonathan Williams, Middlewich Town Council clerk, has admitted that the closure of such a historic shop highlights a worry for the town centre, but says it is something the council is looking to address.


Jonathan said: “It’s a great shame because they are one of the most iconic shops of Middlewich. Most people in the town can’t remember the shop not being there.


“It is very, very sad to see it go. Losing more retail in the town is becoming a more common affair and it’s difficult to survive in small town like this, especially being a locally owned business.


“However it’s a national problem and we will continue to try to do what we can to help the town centre shops and it’s something that we are focusing on in the neighbourhood plan.”