TAVISTOCK’S popular New Look store is closing next month, it has been confirmed to the Times.

In a ‘major blow’ to the high street, the shop in Brook Street will trade for its last day on Thursday, September 13.

The news comes only a short time after the announcement of New Look store closures nationally, including in Launceston, but Tavistock was not originally on the list for closure.

A spokesperson for New Look said: ‘I can confirm the Tavistock store is due to close, with the last day of trade being September 13. We are unable to provide any further information.’

Chairman of the Tavistock and District Chamber of Commerce Tim Randell said he was disappointed for the employees who may be losing their jobs but they needed to be optimistic and look on the positive side.

‘It’s very sad for the loss of people’s jobs,’ he said. ‘It’s a large area of retail space which will need to be filled and the challenge now will be to fill it. This is not about Tavistock, it’s a national company that is having problems nationally.

‘Tavistock is a fantastic place to be and to do business and now this is a wonderful opportunity for another company to come in and sell its wares. The chamber will do what it can to work with everyone to see that Tavistock thrives into the future.’

Tavistock BID (Business Improvement District) manager Janna Sanders said: ‘The closure of another prominent, large, high street store is a major blow for Tavistock. It is a very sad loss for us, especially as it attracts the younger shopper who will now need to go elsewhere. The BID remains committed to increasing footfall into the town in order to help businesses in this time of uncertainty.’