Kitchenware retailer Lakeland has announced that it will be closing its Ipswich shop next month.

The brand currently rents the Ancient House building on Ipswich's Buttermarket. The premises is owned by Ipswich Borough Council.

However, the retailer announced on Thursday that it would be shutting the Ipswich branch for good in January, along with three other stores in Cardiff and Epsom and Perth.

A spokesman for Lakeland said: "It is with regret that we confirm that the Lakeland store in Ipswich is due to close in January.

"We’d like to thank all our customers for their support and we look forward to welcoming them into other stores and to Lakeland.co.uk

"We are very proud of our store teams, who have worked exceptionally hard to deliver a wonderful store environment for our customers, and we will be working closely with all our colleagues to support them at this difficult time."

Following the Ipswich branch's closure the closest Lakeland to Suffolk will be in either Cambridge or Chelmsford.

An Ipswich Borough Council spokesman said: "We’re disappointed to be losing a good tenant, but this is a decision made by Lakeland as part of a national review of stores due to market conditions.

"We are hopeful of securing a new tenant for the Ancient House in 2021."

Terry Hunt, chairman of Ipswich Vision, said that it was vital for the building to remain in use.

"It's probably the most famous building in the town centre," said Mr Hunt.

"It's vitally important that it doesn't stay empty and get boarded up.

"I look forward to some interesting conversations about what it could be used for."

The Ancient House is Grade I listed and dates back to the 15th century.

It has long been rumoured that Charles II once hid in the building during the Civil War following the Battle of Worcester.

Prior to Lakeland's arrival, the building was previously a bookshop for a number of years, known locally as the Ancient House bookshop.