A TOWN centre shop has been cleared after announcing it would close.

Thorntons Cafe in Barrow is now completely empty and signs have been removed.

The company announced earlier this month that the shop, in Dalton Road, would not reopen when lockdown retail restrictions were lifted.

A spokesman from Thorntons explained the decision, saying: “We are committed to transforming and growing the much loved and iconic Thorntons brand.

“To be able to do this, we must ensure we have a store estate that meets changing consumer needs and operates as a commercially viable retail business.

“As a business that has been part of the UK retail footprint for over a century, we continuously review our store estate, store locations and infrastructure to ensure they are fit for current and future customers.

“This includes reviewing a variety of different store variables such as formats, locations, refurbishments, and where necessary closures."