A business owner has made the "sad" decision to close her "unique shop" in the town centre after three years.

Owner of Country Candles in the Market Place, Sarah Murphy, says the move comes following the closure of Marks & Spencer and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on customers.

Sarah says the closure of the historic store has had an impact as many of her customers would go to her store after going to M&S or vice versa.

She said: “I am very passionate about the shop, and the people who come into the shop are also passionate about the shop.

“But everything seems to be closing and it’s especially hard for independent shops too.

The Bolton News:

“And when M&S closed, I made the decision to close the shop because I couldn’t sustain it anymore.

“It has been a massive thought process which I have discussed with my partner Paul Blaney – who has supported me through it all.”

Country Candles moved into the Market Place Shopping Centre, on the upper mall last July after Sarah wanted a larger store for more space.

The shop had previously occupied premises on Corporation Street, after Sarah took her hobby of making candles and wax melts to the next level.

Sarah – who has lived in Bolton all her life – said: "

The Bolton News:

 “It was a place where people came in the coachload, and it was why I wanted to move inside the Market Place.

“Customers would come in because it was something different to them and they would spend agers looking.

“But recently only three customers would come in on one day and I would stand outside the shop and could count on one hand how many people were walking about, and it’s sad to see.

“It’s not an essential shop -  it’s a luxury and people should be able to go out and treat themselves especially in hard times, but not everyone can.”

The closure is especially emotionally for Sarah because she used the money she inherited from her parents – Anne and Ken Fallows – to open the shop.

Sarah said: “I don’t want to see all their money go after they left it me behind.

“It’s going to be awful when the shop does close.

“I will miss the customers and the community within other independent shops.

“It’s not just a job to me; it’s everything about it.”

Many of the items were either made locally or by Sarah.

The business is set to close on June 30, with a huge sale currently on.

Sarah is still hopeful for the future and will keep the website going, which can be found here (www.country-candles.co.uk).

 She also has dreams of opening another shop in the future.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.