A MUCH-loved sandwich shop is set to close today after eleven years of serving hungry revellers.

The Buttery on Deansgate in Bolton Town Centre is the last residing business on the stretch of properties, with others around it long since closed.

Customers lined up out of the door this week to savour one more bite to eat before it closes its doors for good.

Maggie Nicholls, who has worked on and off for the shop for the past few years, including the last three, said: "All of this block is coming down. We're good to the customers and they come back to us because of it."

David Lawrenson owns The Buttery and left a note taped to the counter of the store, which read "I would like to thank you all for your loyal valued custom over the past eleven years."

Mr Lawrenson owns several shops around the region, including Leigh, where Maggie may go to work in the future.

Maggie said that he's "gutted more than anyone" and described the shop as one of his "little empires."

Other vacant stores that flank The Buttery include a hairdressers, a carpet and furniture store, a health goods store and the Blue Boar Pub, which dated back to the 18th century.

Sharon Holland, who works alongside Maggie, said: "All of our regulars are gutted. Our customers are walking in as happy as Larry and going out crying.

"It's because they will all have to make their own breakfast now!"

Residential properties are set to take the place of The Buttery, as part of the council's town centre "masterplan" which has seen several major applications in the works.

A council spokesperson said: “The redevelopment of the Central Street/River Croal area has been a long held aspiration of the council.

“It is one of the five key intervention sites in our £1.5 billion masterplan and a comprehensive plan for new housing is being put together for the area by developers PlaceFirst.

“All affected businesses on the street have been offered assistance by the council to relocate their businesses to help find alternative locations.”

Earlier this year, the then Council deputy leader Ebrahim Adia said that there was a "clear vision" for the centre, to help it keep up with modern shopping habits.

He added: "We are looking at less retail and more residential and leisure to attract people and make Bolton town centre a destination."