IT is another blow for Huddersfield town centre.

Two more businesses are shutting up shop – leaving more empty units.

Betting shop firm Jack Pearson has closed its Half Moon Street branch due to “lack of trade.”

And Thomas Cook has confirmed it will shut its travel agency branch in New Street. Both closures come only days after a new survey found that the number of empty retail units in Huddersfield had increased.

The figure now stands about 18% according to the survey by Local Data Company.

Kirklees Council dispute the figure, saying it was only 11%.

The council is also considering how to use £100,000 it is getting from the Government as part of the Mary Portas review into the country’s high streets.

In Half Moon Street, a notice on Jack Pearson’s window read: “Please note that with effect from Saturday March 31, this shop will be closed for business. This is due to lack of trade.

“We would like to thank you for your business and should you wish to frequent Jack Pearson your nearest betting offices are at Bradford Road, Fartown Bar and Birkby.”

The shop was opened to customers for the morning of April 1 for customers with outstanding winning bets.

Following a 90-day consultation period, Thomas Cook on New Street will close.

This has resulted in four redundancies. Three other workers have obtained alternative roles and two left the company.

In December, the Examiner reported that the holiday giant was looking to close 200 of its outlets across the UK.

The 170-year-old travel group, which came close to collapse in November, racked up losses of almost £400m.

A spokesman for Thomas Cook said: “As part of the retail network review that we first announced last year we can confirm that the Thomas Cook Huddersfield New Street is closing.

“We’d like to thank our colleagues for their professionalism during the consultation period.”

The remaining Thomas Cook shop is on High Street.