THERE is more woe for St Helens town centre following confirmation that Burtons and Dorothy Perkins will shut their stores next month.

Closure notices on the stores – situated at the corner of Bridge Street and Church Street – state they will close on June 14.

It is one of the most prominent stores in the town centre.

The posters point customers to their nearest stores, situated on the Ravenhead Retail Park, which is on the outskirts of the town centre.

Dorothy Perkins also has a clothing section within BHS, which has a large store located inside Church Square.

Church Square Shopping Centre had denied speculation Burtons and Dorothy Perkins were to close when asked by the Star in March.

The news will come as another hammer blow to the high street, which already has empty units, most notably the former WH Smith in Church Street.

Internet shopping, competition from city centres and regional shopping zones, such as the Trafford Centre, and the cost of local parking are all cited as reasons why town centres are struggling.

St Helens Council, which has faced criticism from Star readers for the plight of the town centre, has vowed to invest £1million to bring about improvements.

The ruling Labour party has also pledged to introduce free parking on Saturdays and appoint a task force to review the town centre’s future.

It is not clear at this stage whether a new tenant is lined up for the shop or if it will be left empty.