THE lack of a business willing to take over Liskeard's former Woolworths' store is having a detrimental impact on the town's economy.

The prime town centre site is likely to remain empty for months after a lack of interest from retail companies.

The store, which occupied a large building in a prominent place on Fore Street, closed in January and left a gaping hole in the street.

A number of businesses have shown interest in the property but currently there are no firm plans for a new company to move in.

Liskeard mayor Tony Powell said it was important a new business opened soon to minimise its impact and support plans to regenerate the town.

Cllr Tony Powell said: "We know of one or two people who have tried to purchase it but it is only available on lease. The site is big and there is the opportunity to expand.

"The fact is the store isn't big enough to attract a major high street business in the economic climate we are in.

"Woolworths sold such a wide variety of things, it was a key shop. It was unique and a shop that a lot of people would go into, that isn't there anymore. People probably did make trips to Liskeard because of Woolworths but that has gone now."

One local trader on Fore Street said: "We are definitely missing Woolworths. The footfall coming through the town has definitely dropped since it closed. It was such a versatile shop and it did bring a lot of people into the town. It is good to have stores in the town rather than have them on the outer part of town. The sooner it opens again the better."

Alison O'Dwyer from The Gift Shop in Fore Street added: "The loss of Woolworths has affected the town hugely, it was a huge draw. From Christmas onwards, when Woolworths did close, often between 4pm and 5pm, there would be no one in the street at all. Our takings are down. I'd like to see it open but it depends on what shop – we need a quality shop."

The store in Liskeard was thought to have been the smallest branch in the country. Around the county several former Woolworths' stores have been taken over. In Bodmin Iceland is due to open in the autumn, with Poundland taking over the Truro store and The Original Factory Shop opening in Helston.

Liskeard central councillor Jay Schofield said the closure had impacted upon the town: "Any shop closure is always detrimental to our town - even more so with an iconic shop such as Woolworths. A large empty shop on any high street can become a negative symbol for the community of the economic hardship we are facing. We need to keep the centres of our towns vibrant and sustainable and to curb the trend towards out of town developments."

Mr Powell added the town had to remain optimistic for the future: "We really would like to see that site developed by a named retailer as it would tie down the town centre. We do need that but at the moment it is difficult to see where it will come from.

"We have got to remain optimistic."