SOUTHERN Co-operatives Ltd has announced the closure of one of its Gosport stores leaving 64 staff without jobs.

Buy-Lo in Gunners Way, Fort Brockhurst, will close its doors for the last time on January 5.

Some of the staff at the discount store will be offered posts at one of Co-op's five other stores in Gosport. Those who do not want to take up a new job will be offered redundancy pay.

The decision to close Buy-Lo was taken after Southern Co-operatives decided to concentrate on its community stores.

CDS, a discount clothing store, will take over the shop and start trading in the spring.