MYSTERY today surrounds the future of a car dealership site in Wickham Market – after the business suddenly left.The Jewell servicing centre and sales site in High Street has been left empty but no-one knows why.

MYSTERY today surrounds the future of a car dealership site in Wickham Market – after the business suddenly left.

The Jewell servicing centre and sales site in High Street has been left empty but no-one knows why.

Villagers said staff cleared out of the premises this week, taking everything with them and the cars stored on site were also removed.

There have been problems at the business this year and police were asked to investigate after several cars were damaged in two vandalism attacks.

It is understood acid or paint stripper was poured into expensive cars.

Today the site was like a ghost town, as if people had just left their desks and gone – some taking files and papers with them, others leaving documents still in the process of being worked on.

Only three cars remained on the massive parking lot at the rear of the site.

The premises comprise a large servicing centre, reception and offices, sales centre, portable buildings and an old boarded up property. Barriers have been locked into place at the front to prevent access.

Estimated to be more than one-acre, villagers have been left wondering what will become of the site now.

"They all seemed to disappear so quickly – one day they were there and the next they were all moving out," said one resident.

"It's a big site and everyone is now wondering what it will be used for next. It would be good to see another business come in and use it and provide some local jobs, but it could just as easily go for housing."

It is a prestigious site as it is close to the entrance into Wickham Market and has the village playing field, play area and hall behind it.

The business, which operated under a parent company Mendlefleet Ltd, was run by Mark Jewell. It previously operated from Barrack Square at Martlesham where it displayed cars on one of the county's busiest roundabouts, but moved from there to Wickham Market.

No-one was available from Jewell's to comment today.

Did you work at Jewell's – let us know how you feel about the loss of the service and sales centre. Contact the Newsdesk on 01394 284109.

What do you think should happen to the site now? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk