THERE is no doubt about it – Pets at Home leaving Knutsford is a big blow.

It may not be an independent shop – which is one of Knutsford’s selling points to visitors – but it brought in trade to the town centre.

Those using Pets at Home would then pop into Vikings to pick up some household goods or pop across to Cranford Cafe to get a sandwich.

The pet shop was also a popular centre for schools and community groups to head down and look and pet the animals. It’s probably more of a centre for the community than many realised.

With the former M&Co unit currently waiting to be let and the empty unit that used to home the Easy Fish Co, it will be interesting to see how long it will take Monckton Properties to fill the vacant lots.

Manchester-based property experts Cheetham and Mortimer have been brought on board by the landlords in a bid to fill all the vacant units in Canute Square as soon as they can with ‘Knutsford-friendly’ firms.

However, let us not forget that pet owners can still get all their needs for the loved ones without leaving Knutsford by heading to the Indoor Market on Silk Mill Street where a stall sells a range of items.