Thousands of pounds of clothes, tech and vinyl abandoned in shopping centre

Urban explorers have found massive piles of brand-new clothing, iPads and vinyl records in an abandoned shopping centre.

Stretford Mall, on the outskirts of Manchester, closed its doors to shoppers at the end of February, and is due for demolition - but it appears there was thousands of pounds worth of stock left behind when the traders moved out. Left behind are piles of goods once destined for sale, scattered throughout the premises.

The launch of Stretford Mall in the 1960s was described at the time as a "huge moment" for the town, with the building characterised as "bold, modern and full of energy".

But in the decades since it has grown shabby and dated, with Trafford council determining the shopping centre had no role in its plans for a regenerated Stretford. The structure is now set for demolition, with housing earmarked for the site.

Barriers put up by the authority surrounding the building have failed to prevent people getting inside, and since closure, no fewer than three groups of YouTubers have gained entry to the shopping centre What they've documented inside shows staggering amounts of waste. Scores of black bin bags and cardboard boxes filled with clothes and shoes were discovered in two of the shuttered stores.

Many items were clearly unworn, with tags still attached. Others remained in their plastic packaging. A repair shop's floor was strewn with phones, iPads, laptops and accessories. Hundreds of devices, many still seemingly in working order, were found there. Rows of records, a stack of CDs and several cassettes sat on shelves in a former music shop.

Sofas and office furniture were also captured on camera. Other stores were entirely empty bare shells with only the fixtures remaining. The findings have sparked questions about what will become of the goods still inside the building, reports the Manchester Evening News.

YouTuber Ste G is amongst those who have recorded footage inside the vacant building. In one video shared online, he's seen walking over heaps of discarded tech, describing the remains as 'some money's worth'. He went on to describe the clothing stores as 'rammed full of brand new clothes'.

He told the LDRS: "[The shopping centre] wasn't completely abandoned, but it didn't feel alive either. The silence in certain areas, especially on the upper levels, made everything feel frozen in time. Seeing old shopfronts still set up, with signage and interiors untouched, gave it an eerie but nostalgic atmosphere. Overall, it didn't feel like a typical abandoned place. It felt more like a slow goodbye to a piece of local history."

He felt much of what remains in the mall 'could have been donated' or 'gone to better use'. A spokesperson for Trafford council told the The Local Democracy Reporting Service that stock and equipment left behind will be donated to local charities "where appropriate".

The footage also raises serious concerns about the security of the site. Ste told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he and his group gained access to the grounds and were able to get inside after discovering unlocked external doors. The YouTube video shows the group leaving via a fire door at the rear of the building.

Throughout the footage, he noted there were clear signs that others had visited before them. The LDR service uncovered evidence on YouTube of at least two further groups entering the building. While Ste's group believed security patrols were operating outside the building, they remained inside for a full hour without being stopped or challenged, as the video demonstrates.

If urban explorers can gain entry undetected, others could equally trespass on the site, he said - including squatters or arsonists. A spokesman for the council said there is a "dedicated security team" on site, with additional measures including "reinforcing access points".

But the authority acknowledged it was "aware of a small number of instances involving unlawful access" and would be treating these as 'criminal matters'. Anyone considering entering the building has been warned it is an "active demolition site" which "poses a significant risk to personal safety". Demolition work is expected to get under way in June and finish around September.

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