Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard in bid to protect Telford Morrisons jobs

Mr Pritchard has responded to the announcement by the firm that it planned to close its Turreff Avenue store in Donnington, as part of a series of closures of "unprofitable" supermarkets nationally. He also suggested the site should be taken over by another retailer.

Mr Pritchard said he had written the letter to Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips. He said: "I hope all the employees affected can be re-located into other Morrisons stores in the county or be helped to re-settle into new jobs elsewhere.

"I also have asked Morrisons to actively market the site – possibly to an alternative retailer, who hopefully might re-employ the staff who have been made redundant."

Morrisons has not yet provided a break down of how many jobs could be lost at each earmarked store individually but the closures could lead to the loss of 400 jobs nationally.

It comes after organisers of a petition to save the Donnington store announced they had received 600 signatures.

Mother-of-three Ruth Hallybone set up the campaign to save the supermarket after the firm announced earlier this month it was one of 10 "unprofitable" stores earmarked for closure earlier this month. (JAN)

Telford's other two stores in Lawley and Wellington are not affected.

To sign the petition visit www.change.org/p/morrisons-stores-stop-the-closure-of-the-donnington-store

The petition, which can be signed in store and online at change.org (search Morrisons Donnington), has now attracted more than 600 signatures. A Facebook group has also been set up.

Ms Hallybone said a lot of people, including mothers and pensioners, used the store daily and did not want to be without it.

She said: "People are in there every day and the staff are so friendly as well.

"It is not a convenience store but it is convenient for everyone that uses it."

As well as the store in Donnington, Other Midlands stores that will be affected include West Bromwich and Rugby. And if the closure of the unprofitable stores identified goes ahead, up to 400 jobs could be lost across Britain.

A Morrisons spokesman said: "We have looked extremely carefully at whether these stores can be turned around but unfortunately we cannot see a way of making them viable. We are therefore proposing their closure."

"We are consulting with colleagues and unions to reduce the risk of redundancies and we are looking at ways of redeploying colleagues around our business."

The Donnington store stands on the site of the former Champion Jockey pub.

That was demolished to make way for a Netto, but that the branch later closed down and reopened as a Morrisons supermarket as part of a deal that saw the chain take over 16 branches of the discount store.

As part of that deal staff members were kept on and started working at the new store when it opened in May 2011. To sign the petition visit www.change.org/p/morrisons-stores-stop-the-closure-of-the-donnington-store