The number of empty shops in our towns reached record levels in the second quarter of 2021 according to latest figures and there continue to be premises that have been left empty throughout the pandemic.

Around 14.5 per cent of high street store locations remained empty during the quarter, and shopping centres were worse at 19.4 per cent.

Last year saw retail giants like John Lewis, Debenhams and Topshop being forced to close the doors of their branches – two of the three companies were bought over by online giants Boohoo and ASOS.

Last year was also the worst ever year for retail sales growth on record due to the pandemic.

Cumbria has seen a number of well-loved stores close over the years.

The Whitehaven News asked readers to recall their favourite stores which no longer grace the high street.

In no particular order, ten old favourites mentioned by our readers include:

1 Woolworths – A store that was a big favourite with readers.

From pick ‘n’ mix to hardware, the big brand store had just everything you could ask for and is still a sadly missed feature on the local high street.

2 Murphy’s Bakery – The bakery was located on Egremont’s Market Place and was praised for its delicious goods.

3 The Beehive - Located on King Street, the iconic shop had a plethora of goods available, from a pin and a train set to a hat and a shovel.

4 McConnell’s – Run by brothers Ernie and Jimmy, the shop sold boots, shoes and outdoor clothing and existed long before the ubiquitous big name sports shops of today.

5 Donaldson’s – The butcher was found in Whitehaven’s Market Place and was renowned for making quality Cumberland sausages.

6 The Food Weigh House – The King Street ‘scoop shop’ sold fresh veg, fruits and beverages

7 Mark Taylor – After the popular department store closed down, owner Robert Coon fulfilled a lifetime ambition and released a crime novel.

8 Debenhams – Another big favourite amongst our readers. After 240 years in operation the business, which was situated in The Lanes, closed in May.

9 Pat-A-Cake – The bakery had two shops in Whitehaven, as well as other outlets in Cleator Moor, Harrington, Egremont and Workington and sadly closed in 2006.

10 McIntosh’s – The toy shop on Millom’s Queen Street was extremely popular for children of the town and was dubbed one of the best by readers.