IT’S all change on Grove Street as some retailers put up the shutters as leases come up for renewal.

Hampson’s baked its final loaf in January, while P Williams chemist will serve its last customer next week on Wednesday, February 20.

The pharmacy, originally owned by the Charnleys, was sold to P Williams in 2005 when it re-located from 48 and 50 Grove Street to number 31.

P Williams, subsequently sold the business to the Co-op the following yea.,

Healthcare assistant Helen Jones has worked at the branch for more than four years.

She said: "We are employed by the Co-op and they’re closing the business.

"All the staff have worked for the Charnley’s. Some have been here 17 years.

"It’s all really sad. There are customers we’ve had for years and we’re really going to miss them and want to thank them for their loyalty."

Meanwhile nearby Modus jewellers, owned by Harrington and Hallworth, is staying - but rebranding after landlords proposed a 20 per cent hike in rent.

Peter Harrington said the lease was up for renewal and they had been re-negotiating the rent.

He said the turnover from Modus did not support the running costs of the shop and changes needed to be made.

Mr Harrington and Mr Hallworth are planning to refurbish and change the contemporary jewellers into a more traditional outfit.

Mr Harrington said: "We’re not closing. It’s going to be refurbished and it’s going to be rebranded.

"We thought there was demand for contemporary products, but people clearly don’t want to pay £300 to £400 for silver.

"We need to be taking about £1 million [a year] to make the shop viable and Modus could never achieve that.

"It needs to double its turnover."

He added: "People kept calling it a cheap shop. We don’t do cheap. We had some unique suppliers."

Mr Harrington said he believed there was a market for a more conventional jewellers.

"It will become more traditional and more price orientated, which we think is the way forward.

"It will be a much more luxurious shop."

He said that the Harrington and Hallworth business had become almost totally branded and that the feeling was that some of the products could be moved to another store.

But he said the "price point" would be different, with items priced from £500 up to £20,000 compared to the current price of products in Moduas from £20 upwards.

Mr Harrington said he anticipates that Modus, which is selling off its stock at half price, will close in the next five weeks and will reopen once the refurbishment is complete.

The new shop will operate under the name of Alfred Peter - derived from the founders first names Alfred Hallworth and Peter Harrington.