Telford and Shrewsbury Comet stores to close

Administrators Deloitte, acting on behalf of the UK retail giant, revealed that provisional dates for the closure of both the Shrewsbury store, on Meole Brace Retail Park, and the Telford branch, on Bridge Retail Park, had been made.

The Telford Comet store is to close on Sunday with the loss of 16 jobs and the last trading day for the Shrewsbury shop has been earmarked for December 18 – with up to 30 workers facing redundancy.

A spokesman for Deloitte said the Telford closure was listed on the Comet website and staff in Shrewsbury had been told a provisional date.

He said: "All closure dates are provisional but it is likely the stores in Shrewsbury and Telford will near enough close on the dates the staff have been told."

Sales manager Graham Smith, 42, who has worked at the Shrewsbury store for eight years, said: "We've been told a provisional date and that it's going to be before Christmas.

"We have about 30 employees in Shrewsbury and we're like a big family as most of us have been here for at least seven or eight years so it's almost like losing a family member.

"The morale is as good as it can be but it's been a really difficult time. We've had a fantastic response from customers and many have said they are sad to see us go."

Another worker at the Shrewsbury branch, who asked not to be named, said: "The frustrating part for us is we can't make any plans and have to stay here until the bitter end as there is still that slight chance that somebody may buy us out.

"It has had an affect on our Christmas preparations and there is a lot of stress and strain here."