MORE than 40 staff are facing the threat of redundancy today after town centre store announced it is to close on Christmas Eve. Superdrug in Tavern Street, Ipswich, is to shut its doors to customers after deciding not to renew the lease with landlords leaving the store's 42 staff facing the prospect of job losses.

MORE than 40 staff are facing the threat of redundancy today after town centre store announced it is to close on Christmas Eve.

Superdrug in Tavern Street, Ipswich, is to shut its doors to customers after deciding not to renew the lease with landlords leaving the store's 42 staff facing the prospect of job losses.

A spokeswoman for Superdrug said in a statement that the company would try to find employment at other stores for those affected.

She said: “We can confirm that the Superdrug store will close close on December 24, 2006. Superdrug is committed to ensuring that proper and fair arrangements will be made for all 42 affected employees.

“We are currently discussing a range of options with employees affected by this announcement including looking at vacancies in other Superdrug stores in the local area in order to minimise redundancies.

“Superdrug is owned by the AS Watson group which also owns Savers retail chain and opportunities will be looked at within Savers stores too.”

No one at the store was available for comment.

Have you been affected by this decision? What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk