Concern for welfare emergency at former Bolton town centre M&S

The incident took place at the former Marks and Spencer on Deansgate this afternoon, February 23.

Paramedics and police officers were seen on the street at around 4.20pm, with them being seen stood in a gap in the white boarding around the entrance to the former store.

Paramedics (Image: Newsquest)

Firefighters were also called to the scene momentarily, before heading off again.

Now, GMP has confirmed that officers were called to a “concern for welfare” at around 3.50pm, but upon investigation found that there was no one to be concerned for.

A spokesperson for NWAS added that they were called to the concern for welfare at just after 4pm, but that no one was at the location they were called to.

A police car parked around the corner on Market Street (Image: Newsquest)

The Bolton News reported earlier this month that “squatters” had been reported at the former Marks and Spencer.

The historic store on Deansgate closed in April 2023 to widespread disappointment and has been empty ever since.

But after council staff checked inside the building and found no sign of people accessing the inside, it is understood that film crews may have hired and made use of the site.