SAINSBURY'S bosses have refused to be swayed by the views of thousands of people, declaring: "The Prestwich store will close on June 9."

The head of the company's property affairs, Ms Jane Blower, also said it was "unlikely" that the Longfield Centre site would be sold to any of the top food retailers.

However, Bury South Labour candidate Ivan Lewis offered a glimmer of hope by saying the company was considering opening a new, smaller store in the centre of Prestwich.

A 5,000-plus name "Save Our Sainsbury's" petition was handed to store chiefs by Mr Lewis and representatives from concerned community groups. Ms Blower and her colleague, Mr Peter King, head of northern operations, were invited to Prestwich for a meeting on Mr Lewis's "home turf" so the level of public opposition to the closure could be expressed by representatives from the area board, Prestwich Business Forum and Bury Council.

And they were met at the Longfield Suite by a group of placard-waving protesters.

Judy Paskell, of Church Lane, Prestwich, said: "They are putting profit before responsibility to the community. We didn't expect it would be so easy to change their minds but felt we had to do something as an on-going protest against the effect these enormous firms have on a community."

Ms Blower said unequivocally that the store would go ahead with the closure and that there was potential for a mixed development on the site.

"We would not preclude a food retailer but we are looking at redeveloping the whole site," she explained.

"It is unlikely any of the top five retailers would be interested in taking over the site. If Sainsbury's couldn't make it work then none of the others would see it as profitable.

Ms Blower added: "It means a lot to us that people are interested and it makes it more painful for Sainsbury's to close the store."

Mr Lewis said: "I am bitterly disappointed but not surprised at the company's refusal to reverse the closure decision. What matters now is that we seek a future use for the Sainsbury's site which is consistent with the needs and wishes of the local community."

He welcomed the news that Sainsbury's were considering a smaller presence in Prestwich but stressed no final decision had been made on the proposal.