THE new mayor of Northwich has welcomed the news the town centre's former Burton store is to be completely refurbished.

Cllr Sam Naylor, who was appointed as the new mayor last week, said he was also pleased to see the new owner of the building taking advantage of the generous heritage scheme.

The developer, who is yet to be named, took on the historical property last month and has already started working on transforming the dilapidated building back to its former glory.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund partnership grant scheme with Cheshire West and Chester Council aims to enhance the quality and visual appearance of shops in High Street and Witton Street, focusing on improvements to the traditional timber-framed buildings that give Northwich its unique character.

For Cllr Naylor, the building represents a chapter in his own coming of age story, with the local politician recalling how it was the scene of him buying not just his first tailored suit, but also his first record and first proper haircut.

He said: "I'm just really pleased the new owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has taken advantage of the scheme.

"The interior is already being knocked into shape and I hope new clients are in there soon.

"I've got such an association to that building going back to when I was a kid.

"I got my first suit from Burton's when I was about 18."

The male only fashion retailer had actually been based in the building since 1923, with Cllr Naylor also recalling other businesses being housed in the premises too.

"There was a record shop on the second floor," he added.

"And that's where I bought my first record from, which rather embarrassingly was Ken Dodd's 'Happiness'.

"I also remember getting my first proper haircut from the barber, who was on the top floor as I recall.

"So it's such a special place for me.

"I got my first suit, bought my first record and got my first proper haircut.

"If somebody asked me what would I like to see in there, it would be to go back to how it was back then."

"It was a magnificent building, it really was."

Cllr Naylor went on to explain how the process of buying a suit back in the late 1960's had been an entirely different proposition to how things are done today.

He explained: "Everybody went for a made to measure suit there.

"You went in, had all your measurements taken, you chose your materials, which in my case was Prince of Wales check and then chose the type of style you wanted.

"Then you came back about three weeks later and there was your suit, made to measure.

"You'd pay a fortune for that kind of thing now."