'All the things we used to have' - 13 things readers said about which shops should come to South Shields

The suggestions for which shops should come to South Shields were endless - but you definitely had yours favourites. More than 1,200 of you voted in our online poll, with almost half telling us that they wanted a Primark to come for town. Second in line was an M&S food hall. Check out the results below.

Vote: Which shop would you most like to see come to South Shields town centre?

There were also calls for free parking, a department store, a shoe shop and a "proper" toy shop. But what would you for?

Here are some of your views from social media:

Chelsie Jade Boyack: "Before I read the comments I know for a the most asked for will be Primark, which ain’t ever going to happen because shields is a town not a city."

Jackie Ann Scott: "Pull the whole lot down and build a covered shopping centre like the Bridges or Galleries, it's what South Shields deserves."

Karen Gibson: "I’m sure younger people would like Smiggle etc. Primark won’t come here it’s too small a town. I’d love a larger New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Marks & Spencer. Lush would be good and a book shop like Waterstones."

Wendy Price: "In other words - all the things we used to have! We had a fabulous department store (Binns), we had a M&S, we had lots of reasonably priced clothing stores (River Island, Dorothy Perkins, Etam, Bon Marche etc), we had fantastic toy shops (Ripons, Binns, WHSmith) we had a high street full of big names (Woolworths, Clark’s, BHS, Curry’s, Debenhams, Topman) as well as quality small independents (T&G Alan’s, TY McGurk, GK Lee)."

Alison Jane Tribe: "A big Marks & Spencer that sells food, household and clothes. I will not go to South Shields because there is nothing.

"King Street is so sad and the lack of shops is such a shame all the buses, big bus station, the metro, the beautiful sea front but no shops."

Lyndsey Dorward: "Would be nice if they could make it into a activity centre for younger children or something for people who are homeless."

Joanne Cassidy: "Anything that isn't a bookies, a phone shop, £1 shop or a charity shop would be good."

Margaret Hines: "We need M&S back! And H&M would be nice too. Is this an Easter wish? Is the Gazette going to make it come true?"

Kath Morrison: "Need shoe shops, M&S, independent shops. Free parking would be a massive bonus."

Michelle Wall: "I would like to see a Waitrose or M&S in Shields!"

Pagon Sharni Gray: "Primark. H&M. Some good shoe shops like Schuh, Foot Locker. A Bodycare like in the Bridges. A Lush shop. A much bigger New Look. Some men’s clothes shops. To name a few."

Kathleen Anderson: "I would like Marks & Spencer back please or T&G Allans, or Woolworths ,or Tesco."

Mandy Cook: "More pet shops that are reasonably priced."