YOU get an unhappy investor at Alliance and Leicester - at least as far as Radcliffe customers of the building society are concerned.

The Blackburn Street branch is being transferred to The Rock in Bury and Radcliffe traders have organised a petition to protest at the move.

"It's another blow to Radcliffe town centre and one that will have a knock-on effect on other businesses and the atmosphere of the town in general," said leading campaigner and Radcliffe Traders' Association member Mrs Gaynor Carter.

The move is expected to be completed by November and the two full-time employees and four part-time employees will work at the new branch.

Company spokesman Michelle Weller said: "We are redeveloping our branches to make them more user-friendly and efficient. Unfortunately, the site in Radcliffe does not lend itself to the new development."

Mrs Carter, a supervisor at nearby Boots, who has already collected hundreds of signatures, said: "It's doubtful that the petition will make them change their minds but at least it means the strength of feeling will not go unrecognised."

She added: "A transfer would cause a lot of inconvenience and mean that people would have to change building society or else travel to Bury."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.