SHOPPERS in Christchurch have expressed shock over the closure of their local Budgens store.

Signs have appeared in the window of the Saxon Square shop stating that it is closing down.

It comes just a week after Food Retail Operations Limited, the company that operates a number of Budgens stores, was placed into administration due to “difficult trading conditions”.

Michael Denny, Robert Moran and Matthew Hammond of PwC were appointed as joint administrators on February, 10 2017.

There is no fixed date yet for the store’s closure, but it is set to close once all its stock, which has been heavily discounted, has been sold.

Violet and Gwyn Samuel said it was “heart-breaking” to see it close.

“We’ve only got Waitrose and Marks and Spencer left now, and they’re expensive. “Budgens hasn’t even been open all that long,” Mrs Samuel added.

Frederick Roy said: “It’s very bad it’s closing as it’s only been open less than a year after taking over the Co-op.

“I use the store two or three times a week. It will be a loss for the town.”

Maureen Allard said she was “very sorry to see it go”, but added Budgen’s prices had put her off from using the store often.

PwC said that the administrators had been assessing interest in the business and formulating appropriate trading strategies and that this would continue over the coming days and weeks.

Mike Denny, joint administrator, PwC, said: “Our trading strategy reflects our continued focus on engaging with interested parties, whilst seeking to optimise trading performance across all stores.

“We will continue to evaluate our strategy as the sale process progresses over the coming days and weeks.”

The Co-op has offered to find jobs for ex-colleagues in the 36 affected stores.