More than 120 jobs could go after Sainsbury's revealed it will close its mini-supermarket store in Chelmsford.

The supermarket giant has announced it is to close its Sainsbury Central store in the town's High Chelmer shopping centre in June.

Bosses blamed the closure on decreasing customers and rising competition from surrounding out-of-town foodstores had forced its hand.

A spokesman for the store said: "We will be taking time to counsel staff and offer deployment - it's a very personal and difficult time for staff at the moment.

"The store attracts shopping basket trade and lunch-time trade and there is no potential to expand and offer more to customers," he added.

Staff not successfully deployed to other store sites will lose their jobs. Store bosses are currently discussing options for the site with landlords with a view to marketing the site for future tenants.

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