THERE is a clear appetite in Barrow for a Primark and store bosses would do well to listen.

Many of our readers have long called for the budget fashion chain to set up shop here and its arrival would be a real boost for Barrow.

Not only would it offer a vast range of clothing at cut-prices, but it would also create new retail jobs and offer something new to the town’s shopping experience.

The facts are that the nearest outlets to Barrow are either Lancaster, Blackpool, Preston or Carlisle – which is too far for loyal customers to go for a bargain.

The town was sorry to see a retailer of the quality of M&S announce plans to quit in 2020 and its departure will leave a significant hole.

But it is becoming clear that M&S bosses in Barrow believe that the premises could be converted to accommodate a store to the dimensions that Primark demands.

It is a huge credit to M&S that it is doing its best to make the case and let’s just hope Primark listens.

Just this year, it forecast sales to be up by four per cent – bucking the trend for the retail sector – and announced plans to open 900,000sq ft of new selling space. Let’s hope they recognise the enormous customer loyalty being shown in this area, and that we will see some of those profits reinvested in setting up a store in Barrow.