House of Fraser is to close its store in Carlisle city centre - with the loss of about 150 jobs.

The move is part of a 31-shop closure programme designed to keep the wider company alive.

About 6,000 jobs nationally will be lost by the rescue deal.

If the plan is approved, 2,000 House of Fraser jobs will be affected together with 4,000 brand and concession roles.

The stores scheduled for closure will stay open until early 2019, House of Fraser said.

The retailer - which has 59 stores - needs the approval of 75 per cent of its creditors to go ahead with the plan.

The shops earmarked for closure are: Altrincham, Aylesbury, Birkenhead, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Camberley, Cardiff, Carlisle , Chichester, Cirencester, Cwmbran, Darlington, Doncaster, Edinburgh Frasers, Epsom, Grimsby, High Wycombe, Hull, Leamington Spa, Lincoln, London Oxford Street, London King William Street, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Plymouth, Shrewsbury, Skipton, Swindon, Telford, Wolverhampton, Worcester.

The department store chain's Chinese owner, Sanpower, is seeking to finalise a restructuring proposal.

As part of that plan, which is being drawn up with the help of accountancy firm KPMG, House of Fraser could also ask for rent reductions on a further 11 outlets.

The store closures - which will include its flagship shop in Oxford Street in London - will be undertaken through a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA), a controversial insolvency procedure in vogue among struggling retailers.

News of the closure has come as a shock to many.

David Jackson, commercial director of The Lanes Shopping Centre, said: "It's a sad day for Carlisle. It is sad for the management and the staff.

"It is also sad for the city because it is losing a lot of brands.

"You can only hope that some of the concessions might want to open stores in the city to still have a presence."

He added that the building, on English Street, would have to be redeveloped.