Staff at Huddersfield’s BHS store, which closed yesterday, have been praised for having their “heads held high” during recent turbulent months.

Store manager Anne McNab, who locked the doors for the final time at 5.30pm, said recent weeks had been difficult but employees had been very professional.

“I can’t commend my team highly enough,” she said.

“The whole process has been extremely difficult but they have gone through it with integrity and with their heads held high. I can’t have asked for a better team to go through this.”

Ms McNab said some staff had found new jobs and others were going through the interview process.

BHS store manager Anne McNab locking up for the final time
BHS store manager Anne McNab locking up for the final time

She praised town centre retailers for helping staff find new employment.

Shop floor colleagues were joking among themselves as the doors closed, but one worker said the mood had been “up and down.”

Passing shoppers snapped up bargains in the store’s final hours.

John Kerr, 55, who got some cheap CDs and chocolate, said the closure was a great shame.

WATCH: Huddersfield BHS staff gather to mark their final shift

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He added: “How many empty units are we going to get? They are trying to fill these units but why are they empty? Are they charging too much? Are they driving shops into malls?”

Pat Scott, 60, visiting from York, said the way the business had been run was “despicable.”

She added: “I am disgusted that the company has been asset stripped.”

Linda Joseph, who picked up some beach towels, said: “Last time it was Woolworths, now it’s BHS. Which one is next? We grew up with BHS, so it’s a shock. It’s a shame for the workers.”

The closure of the two-storey store saw 60 staff lose their jobs.

In total, more than 11,000 BHS workers UK-wide are being made redundant following the collapse of BHS in April.

Administrators announced last month that all BHS stores are to shut by August 20.

The loss of the Huddersfield store is a major blow to the town. BHS occupies the second-largest unit at the Piazza Shopping Centre.