Store closes before flagship move

The new flagship store opens on Thursday

One of the best-known stores in Liverpool city centre is closing its doors for the final time.

John Lewis, formerly known as George Henry Lee, is moving to a new flagship store on South John Street as part of the Liverpool One development.

It means the store on Basnett Street, where the company has traded for 60 years, will close on Monday.

The first phase of the £1bn Liverpool One retail development is opening on Thursday morning.

An army of staff will be involved in moving stock and other items to the new store on Tuesday and Wednesday before the opening.

Margaret Jacques, managing director of John Lewis in Liverpool, said the move was being planned like a "military operation".

The new John Lewis store is the biggest outside London and is one of the flagship developments of Liverpool One.

The development features shops, bars and hotels and centres on a 42-acre site near the city's Paradise Street.

Its official grand opening, when all of the units will be open, is taking place in September.