WORKERS are fearing for their jobs after a food chain announced it would be closing a town’s restaurant.

The Pizza Hut store at Hedge End Retail Park closed yesterday, adding to 29 branches across the nation that were revealed to be closing earlier this year.

Over 400 jobs were said to be at risk when Pizza Hut announced it would be closing branches in September, and now the Echo understand, Hedge End employees are also concerned at the prospect of losing their jobs.

The food chain, which, like many other hospitality businesses, has been hit by the coronavirus crisis, claims it is trying to transfer staff members to other Pizza Hut restaurants, rather than laying them off.

A spokesperson for Pizza Hut Restaurants said: “Unfortunately the Southampton Hedge End Pizza Hut Restaurant closure has been beyond our control and we are doing everything we can to redeploy our team members to other Pizza Hut Restaurants in order to minimise the impact to our workforce.

“We understand this is a difficult time for everyone involved and are supporting our team members as much as we possibly can.”

Customers have now taken to Facebook to voice their sadness and concern for employees.

Some claimed that staff were only told about the closure two days before the restaurant closed its doors for the final time.

Ward councillor for Hedge End South and leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, Keith House said he is sad to see the restaurant go, and hopes it will return to Hedge End in the future.

“Pizza Hut like so many other restaurants have had a tough time this year” he said.

“It can’t be in the landlord’s interest for this restaurant site to be unlet for long so I hope a deal can be done to bring Pizza Hut back.”