A DEVELOPER which bought a prominent town site store has been criticised for leaving the unit boarded up and empty for seven months.

Critics believe Terrace Hill's inability to find a new owner for the former Dressers site, in Darlington, may even have had a bearing on the town's failure to capture honours in this year's Britain in Bloom contest.

A number of retailers have been linked with the High Row shop, which was vacated by the stationers in April after more than 100 years.

The Stockton developer has in the past suggested a deal for a new owner was only days away - but there has been no sign of any movement for months.

The unit has been stripped and boarded up - in stark contrast to its former sister store in Northallerton, part of which has been sold on to bookseller Ottakars.

Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for regeneration, Councillor David Lyonette, said: "I am very disappointed in the speed at which Terrace Hill is putting it back on to the market. I had comments made to me during the Britain in Bloom period that the appearance of that prominent site had an effect on the national judging.

"Whenever I've asked the question as to the promises of potential retailers, there hasn't been any strong indication of any timescale of completion of it."

He said he would have expected, with Christmas less than a month away, to have seen a new retailer in place there.

No one at Terrace Hill was available to comment, despite requests from The Northern Echo over the past two days.