Workers were told at a meeting on Monday that 36 jobs will be lost as the shop's doors will close for the last time at the end of the month.

One upset staff member told the Gazette: "We'd all heard the rumours earlier that the shop might close, but it still came as a shock. As you can imagine, the staff are pretty upset by this."

Earlier this year, Somerfield were taken over by the Co-operative group and there were fears that towns with both stores in operation might lose one or the other.

The employee added: "It would have seemed to be more sensible if they would have kept the Somerfield store open instead.

"This store has more parking available and is a lot bigger.

"Obviously the timing is really bad, being so close to the Christmas period, and I feel that is the most upsetting part of this.

"It was already going to be tough with the credit crisis, but now being out of a job makes it so much harder."

When the merger between the two supermarkets chains went through it was described as being "good news for consumers" and that it would create a "stronger fifth player" in the supermarket field.

This latest blow comes just months after Tesco cast doubt over when they will be opening in the town - despite building a brand new purpose-built store this summer.

Somerfield were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.