Shrewsbury's Burton and Miss Selfridge shops to shut

Two high street names will be closing their stores in Shrewsbury this spring, bosses said today.

Both the Burton and Miss Selfridge shops in Pride Hill will shut on March 12.

Store manager Gareth Ellis confirmed that both stores would be closing but said he could not disclose what would be happening to the 15 staff.

Nobody from Burton or Miss Selfridge head offices, which are part of the Arcadia Group, was available for comment today. It is unclear what the reasons were for the closure.

Mr Ellis said he had been working for Burton's in Shrewsbury since 1982 but the joint site with Miss Selfridge has only been operating for two years.

The news comes after it was revealed that Waitrose is planning to open a new supermarket in the former post office in St Mary's Street and the former Burger King store in Pride Hill, which is next to Burton and Miss Selfridge.

Mr Ellis said he was not aware of any connection between the new store and the closure of the two stores.

Waitrose submitted an application for a new premises licence for the store to include the sale of alcohol and the playing of recorded music between 7am and 11pm Monday to Sunday.

The store is expected to create up to 40 jobs and open in late spring 2011.