A MAJOR city centre retailer is to close its doors for good putting numerous jobs at risk.

LloydsPharmacy in English Street will open and close for the last time on August 12, making all staff that can't be relocated redundant.

Staff were believed to have been told last Thursday (May 9) that their jobs were at risk, with bosses promising to redeploy staff at the branch to other LloydPharmacy stores where vacancies exist.

The firm is offering a "smooth transition" and an "uninterrupted service" despite the closure, saying that it has looked at other community pharmacy provision in the area.

When approached by the News & Star, LloydsPharmacy refused to disclose the reasons for the decision, nor would they confirm how many staff are currently employed at the pharmacy.

Viv Dodd, of Cumbria Business for Business - which supports small independent businesses in Carlisle - said: "Any shop on the main street closing is very bad news, but it is a good building and a good site, so it may well find someone to take it over.

"It is the sad state of high streets at the moment."

Mr Dodd added: " I wouldn't say it gives a negative impression, we are not short of chemists. We have plenty of chemists around.

"I think the impact will be minimal (on consumers). People will be saying Carlisle is closing down, but it is important to find out why it has closed - it always seemed to be busy."

LloydsPharmacy released the following statement: "We can confirm that the LloydsPharmacy store on English Street in Carlisle will close on August 12. We fully understand the impact that such changes can have on local communities, especially for people that have been our customers for a long period of time.

"As part of our decision-making process, we have looked at other community pharmacy provision in the area, with a view to mitigating the impact on patients as much as possible. For instance, we have other branches on Warwick Road and within Sainsbury’s on Church Street.

"We will be taking every opportunity to direct patients to other community pharmacies in the area and to support a smooth transition to facilitate an uninterrupted service. We will also be supporting colleagues at this difficult time and redeploying members of the team, where possible, to other LloydsPharmacy locations where vacancies exist."