Shops opening and closing in Lancaster amid calls to "shop local" this Christmas

A new shop has opened but others have closed in Lancaster city centre in the run-up to Christmas.

OST Outlet footwear store has opened in Marketgate shopping centre, specialising in trainers.

Lancaster BID (Business Improvement District), a group championing city centre businesses, posted on Facebook to welcome the new shop.

"Calling all trainer lovers…OST outlet has now opened in Marketgate Shopping centre next to M&S and the ping pong parlour.

"Make sure to check it out when you’re in town!"

Meanwhile it's been announced that the Humble Abode clothing and accessories shop on Chapel Street, which only opened earlier this year, will be closing.

A post on the Humble Abode Facebook page said they had "made the difficult decision to close our doors".

Stefan Johnson from the shop is pictured below.

They will be holding a late-night opening farewell event at the store on Saturday December 21 from 7pm to 9pm.

This follows the closure of the LookFantastic cosmetics store in Dalton Square a few weeks ago.

Totally Local Lancaster, which also supports city centre businesses, posted on Facebook to call on shoppers to "support local" to help Lancaster shops to survive.

"Jobs and incomes lost. I can not stress enough the work, energy and commitment that goes into opening, and running, your own little business.

"The frontage, the establishment that greets you when you walk in, is the end product, of many days, weeks, months, and even years, of toil, and that's not taking into consideration the financial costs, which can run into hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment, in some cases.

"So please, do what you can, by supporting local."