Mystery surrounds closure of Heath News newsagents and Post Office in Heath Road/Foxhall Road

Mystery surrounds the sudden closure of a community newsagents in Ipswich, with oblivious staff showing up for work to find the doors shut.

Heath News and Post Office, in Heath Road, failed to open this morning and simply put a sign in the window saying “CLOSED”, with no further explanation.

Customers claimed they did not receive their usual newspaper delivery.

A man, who asked to remain anonymous, said his teenage daughter had delivered newspapers from the shop for three years, but she turned up for work yesterday morning along with colleagues and found it closed.

He added: “She came back all upset. It seems like no-one had any warning.

“My son also works there part-time during the summer when he’s back from university, so he was gutted as well.”

The man said the closure had come “out of the blue”.

He said: “There used to be a toy shop upstairs and when that part disappeared in my view it kind of started to change a bit.

“It’s sad to see a local Post Office, especially that one, end up like it has.

“I feel sorry for everyone, but very sorry for the paper girls and boys. At the moment they don’t know if they will be paid.”

The man said the closure, if it is permanent, would have a big impact on the surrounding community.

“There’s a lot of the older generation around this area,” he said. “It has quite a few regulars.

“I don’t know where the next nearest Post Office is. There is nothing in Heath Road.”

Customers outside the newsagents today, who did not want to be named, said they were shocked to see it had shut so suddenly.

One said: “I don’t know how I’m going to get my post now, it’s a shame.”

A spokeswoman for the Post Office was unable to give any further information regarding the reason for the closure when approached.

However, she said: “We would like to apologise to customers for the temporary closure and we are working hard to reopen the store as soon as possible.”