Shrewsbury Argos to shut after 30 years

One of Shrewsbury's Argos stores is to shut its doors after almost 30 years in the town, bosses have confirmed.

The store in Claremont Street will close on January 20 after company bosses chose not to renew its outstanding lease which expires this month.

But Argos, which also has a store on the town's Meole Brace Retail Park, has refused to reveal how many employees could be affected by the closure, which staff have been informed about via letters. It said a consultation process was under way and that 'wherever possible' employees would be relocated to other branches.

A spokesman said: "Argos aims to have a store within 10 miles of most households in the UK and these changes won't affect our customers in that respect."

Simon Airey, committee member and former president of Shrewsbury Business Chamber, said: "It's a great shame for the town centre because it is one more reason why people will shop out of the town which is always a blow."