TESCO has announced it plans to shut one of its major Hampshire stores.

Up to 80 jobs are risk at the Homeplus store in WestQuay Retail Park in Harbour Parade.

The closure on March 15 is part of the supermarket giant's culls its unprofitable UK stores.

This announcement comes as the firm reported poor trading figures earlier this month, and said 43 unprofitable stores across the country would close.

In a statement today, new chief executive Dave Lewis said: “In January I announced that our performance as a business has fallen significantly short of where we would want it to be and that to protect the future of the business in the UK we would close 43 unprofitable stores.

“It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that our Southampton Homeplus store is one of the 43 we plan to close.

Daily Echo:

“The decision to close the store has been exceptionally difficult to take. I recognise it will affect many hard working colleagues, our customers and the local community.

“Our priority is to explain what this announcement means for our colleagues and wherever possible, offer them alternative roles with Tesco.

“I would like to thank all our customers who have shopped in our store. We will continue to do our best to serve them through our other local stores in Southampton and our dotcom service.”

Reacting to the new, Southampton Itchen MP John Denham said: ‘This is devastating news for the employees and their families.

"They are paying the price for the failings of Tesco’s senior management. I urge Tesco to do everything possible to offer the staff alternative employment within the company."