Shop workers' dilemma after Spar branch closes

Staff at a shop in Shrewsbury today claimed they had been left in limbo after the store closed earlier this month, despite assurances that a buyer had been found to save it and their jobs would be safe.

The Spar shop in Ditherington Road closed on January 2 after its owner the Robert Beatty company went into liquidation.

At the time a spokesman for the firm said a buyer had been found and it was due to be taken over in a few weeks, securing the jobs of all 12 staff.

But nearly four weeks later members of staff today said they had still not received any information about when it would re-open or reassurances that their jobs were safe.

Kevin Godfrey, from Wingfield Gardens, who worked at the store said he had been 'left in limbo' following the closure.

The 41-year-old said: "We were told on December 31 that it was going into liquidation and we were being made redundant.

"Then the next week we were told a buyer had been found and the new owners were going to take us on."

Mr Godfrey claimed he then received redundancy papers through the post on January 7.

He said: "When I tried to contact Beatty's they said they didn't know what was going on. I need re-assurance as to whether I have a job or not."

The Robert Beatty company was unavailable for comment today, but earlier this month a spokesman for the firm said it had a 'buyer for the store' and it was due to open 'in a few weeks. At the time a spokesman vowed jobs would be 'secure'.