DICKINSONS is to close its store in Hexham, the company announced on Friday.

A total of 30 jobs are at risk because of the closure of the Beaumont Street store, along with the firm's outlets in Alnwick and Carlisle.

Dickinsons said the three stores were suffering from a fall in footfall. Instead, the business will concentrate on its commercial and contracting divisions, along with the launch of a new online store.

Managing director John Spreadbury said: “Over the past two years we have diversified into multiple markets, at the same time reducing our exposure to the uncertain high street retail risk, and have significantly and successfully developed further existing business relationships and built new ones, winning some high profile agreements within our contracts division and enhancing our commercial division enormously.

“We have also a need to protect our business from the drop-off in footfall at our predominantly market town stores and it is with a heavy heart that we are consulting our staff on the closure of these stores.

"Sadly. the group is no longer able to sustain the running costs and drop-off in sales in this area of our business.”

Dickinsons directly employs 81 people with a further 60 sub-contractors and are looking to re-deploy people across the group.

Dickinsons' headquarters are at Tynecastle House, Prudhoe, where directors, finance, distribution, warehousing, online, contract flooring and commercial design are located.