BOSSES at a town centre shopping centre are hopeful of enticing a “well known store” to fill the voids that will appear when Burtons and Dorothy Perkins stores close later this month.

Closure notices on the front of menswear store Burtons confirmed rumours surrounding the store, which occupies a prominent town centre location at the corner of Church Street and Bridge Street.

The Star’s report of the imminent axing of the stores – June 14 is the date advertised – led to dismay among readers concerned by the deterioration of St Helens town centre.

Earlier this year WH Smith became the latest national chain to leave, leaving a yawning gap on the high street.

A spokesman for Church Square Shopping Centre, which is landlord for the soon-to-be empty units, said: “The management team are hopeful of bringing in another company, and say that that well-known names are interested - helped by the presence of stores such as Romans, which opened in February, with six jobs.

“We have been informed by the store's (Burtons) parent company, Arcadia, that it has decided not to renew the lease, which ends in July.

"This is not a reflection of the situation at Church Square and we are aware that Arcadia is not renewing a number of its shop leases around the country.

"We are working hard to find new tenants for these premises."

Burtons and Dorothy Perkins will point customers to stores on the Ravenhead Retail Park from the middle of next month.