THE former owners of Dickinsons in Hexham have expressed their sadness at news that the store is to close.

The Beaumont Street furniture store is one of three Dickinsons outlets which are due to close, along with others in Alnwick and Carlisle.

The company announced last Friday that the three stores were suffering from a drop in footfall, and that the firm would instead concentrate on its commercial and contracting divisions, along with the launch of a new online store.

The Dickinson family ran the Hexham store under its former name, Dickinson Furnishers, before selling the business to its current owners 16 years ago.

Speaking on Monday, Conrad Dickinson said the family had remained as landlord of the Hexham store, and its associated properties, since the sale in 2001.

Mr Dickinson added: "We have had no connections with the running of Dickinson Furnishers since we sold the business 16 years ago.

"It is incredibly sad that the owners have decided to close in Hexham and as landlord of the properties we will look to find new tenants, once the buildings have been vacated."

Mr Dickinson pointed out that over the past 16 years, the Dickinson family has owned and operated Karpet Mills, a completely separate business, based in Newcastle, Gateshead, and County Durham.