The nation’s biggest toy retailer, The Entertainer, has announced it will close one of its much-loved stores in just days, delivering a crushing blow to another of Britain’s struggling high streets. The branch in Barrow-in-Furness, which opened in 2017 in the old Argos unit in the town centre, will shut its doors permanently on May 3.

Shoppers were greeted with "closing down" posters in the windows this week, sparking a wave of disappointment among loyal customers. Keith Stenhouse, Head of Region at The Entertainer, confirmed the news.

He said: "We are sad to be closing our Barrow-in-Furness store as of 3rd May and would like to thank our customers and staff for their loyalty and support.

"We’re proud of the service we’ve offered and are committed to supporting our employees through this situation."

He explained that the company, which boasts more than 160 standalone stores and over 860 outlets inside Tesco supermarkets across the UK, occasionally has to make the "difficult decision" to close stores that are "no longer profitable."

Shoppers took to social media to share fond memories, with one writing: “The staff here are incredible. It’s obvious they love their jobs, nothing was too much trouble.” Another added: “It’s literally the best toy store in Barrow.”

The closure comes as part of a wider pattern for The Entertainer.

The store's Luton branch in the Luton Point shopping centre shut its doors for good on January 25.

Its Croydon branch at Whitgift shopping centre also closed just days after on February 1.

Stores in Edinburgh, Brent Cross, and Haslemere also ended in recent months.