The UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer Boots UK are closing their  Batley branch, situated on Commercial Street, saying it is no longer economically viable to continue a source told Paigaam.

A spokes-person for the retailer told Paigaam they had been ‘unsuccessful’ in securing ‘a suitable NHS pharmacy contract.’

“ We are passionate about providing pharmacy services in the local communities that we serve, and as we have unfortunately been unable to secure a suitable NHS pharmacy contract in our store on Commercial Street, Batley, we have taken the decision not to renew the lease.” Boots UK told us.

Paigaam has also learnt the store will be closed on the 8 May 2015.

The store is the last big name retail outlet in the town centre and opened 20 years ago.

Strong supermarket competition and a heavy fall in town centre shoppers had also been thought to be contributing factors.

Boots UK confirmed the news of the closure on Twitter after the story broke on the social media site earlier on Monday.