24 retro pictures of Fleetwood's most loved and lost shops including Hitchens after Lord Street fire

As a huge fire ripped through a prominent former department store in Fleetwood town centre we’ve taken a look back at some of the town’s most loved and lost shops.

The former Ex-Catalogue Outlet, which was also once an M&S and Hitchens caught fire shortly after 5pm last night.

Approximately 20 firefighters from stations across the Fylde coast including Fleetwood, Blackpool, Lytham and St Annes were called to the scene to try and get the flames under control.

The crews worked until 3am this morning to extinguish the flames.

This morning Lancashire Police said a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, both from Fleetwood. have been arrested on suspicion of arson.

United Utilities said the water discolouration experienced by their customers in the town this morning was “nothing to worry about” and was a consquence of fire hydrants being used to tackle the huge blaze in Lord Street last night.

Today work is ongoing to ensure the building, of which the roof has fallen in, is structurally safe.

These pictures from The Gazette archives show Lord Street in the 1990s and early 00s and bring back memories of shops which are no longer including HItchens as well as some of the key developments which changed the face of the town centre as it went through a period of regeneration.

The old Church Army centre was flattened to make way for Carleton Court and Mickeys clothing was demolished and replaced by new council offices.

Hearshaws, Woolworths, Hitchens… they’re all there.

Do you have any old photos of Lord Street from the 1980 which show some of the shops and how it all looked back then?

We would love to hear from you email [email protected]