Retailer Dickinsons Furnishers Group is set to close its only store in Cumbria as party of plans which will see 30 people lose their jobs.

The Northumbrian company is shutting the shop Interiors by Dickinsons, in Victoria Viaduct, Carlisle city centre, along with its outlets in Hexham and Alnwick.

This move comes as part of a new strategy, which will see the firm focus on its commercial and contracting divisions and online store following a drop-off in footfall at the three stores earmarked for closure.

John Spreadbury, managing director, said: “Over the past two years we have diversified into multiple markets, at the same time reducing our exposure to the uncertain high-street retail risk, and have significantly and successfully developed further existing business relationships and built new ones, winning some high profile agreements within our contracts division and enhancing our commercial division enormously.

“We have also a need to protect our business from the drop-off in footfall at our predominantly market town stores and it is with a heavy heart that we are consulting our staff on the closure of these stores. Sadly the group is no longer able to sustain the running costs and drop-off in sales in this area of our business.”

He added: "Going forward, the group is also planning further investment, following our acquisition of New England Interiors, focusing on interior design within the B2B sector, property re-development, new builds and commercial contracting and will be making a further announcement very shortly in this area of Dickinsons long term growth strategy”, he added.

The Dickinsons Furnishers Group directly employs 81 people with a further 60 sub-contractors. The firm "re-deploy people across the group" but added that it was "inevitable that before other areas of the business can realise their long term growth potential, following a period of staff consultation, that around 30 jobs will be at risk".

It has its headquarters in Tynecastle House, Prudhoe. A spokesman said: "There is no date for an impending closure as there is still a staff consultation process to go through before any final decision is taken."