THE announcement that another town centre shop will soon close its doors is a 'devastating' blow for Barrow.

Furness Home Interiors is the latest shopping outlet to reveal it is shutting its Portland Walk premises.

The store closure has sparked debate online by residents suggesting what can be done to improve the high street and why shops are leaving it.

Elaine Ferguson said: "When you go to the shops they encourage you to go online, i went over the Christmas period in New Look they have spread the things out and there's half of what you see online when I got to the check out the lady looked for me told me to go online."

John Calvert said: "It's a changing world we live in, unfortunately shopping isn't generally done in the high street anymore.

"The town centre needs to change for the future and unfortunately I don’t think the future is shopping."

Che Robert Smith said: "Still some decent shops in the town with much variety, i would like to see a food court or a row of lively bars that complement each other."

Andrew Orr suggested that 'free parking would be an incentive to shop in the town'.

Trevor Jones said: "Town centres are bland and not attractive, high business rates mean higher prices, and traffic wardens inflicting fines on people.

"Online and retail parks are the way forward."

Steve Smith said: "I am looking to open a shop in Barrow town centre but the rates make is unaffordable at present."

Trevor Dickinson said: "No doubt, the internet has proven to be fantastic in a lot of ways, however, it has proved to be devastating to towns centre's the length and breadth of the UK.

"Traditional shopping is finished, unfortunately, more closures are inevitably destined to follow."

Mark Holden said: "Shop local like in Ulverston and stop using Amazon, not hard to support local business?"

Robert Sewell said: "Everyone is trying to make Barrow as good as it used to be, which is the problem.

"Stop living in the past and change the future for Barrow yourself."