TOWN centre shops have been left divided about when to open late for Christmas shopping after the Alhambra Centre's decision to switch its late night from Wednesday to Friday.

Wednesday has for years been the night the town centre remains open for those wanting to do their Christmas shopping after work.

But the Alhambra says Wednesday night trade has been poor in recent years and has decided to swap to Friday. Several stores have followed suit creating a possible split with half the town closed and half of it open on both Wednesday nights and Friday nights in December.

The council's Christmas light switch on ceremony will still be on a Wednesday and much of the town centre had no intention of changing things. But Boots and Marks and Spencer have both decided to follow the Alhambra and switch to Friday, while WH Smith is sticking to Wednesday.

** The full round up appears in the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper, dated November 7. **