A POPULAR shop is closing after serving the community for almost 40 years.

The Factory Shop, in Luckyn Lane, Basildon, will shut next month.

Bosses at the family-run business made the difficult decision to close for good insisting it would “not be viable” during and after work taking place on the roof.

Sister businesses in Leigh, Rochford and Rayleigh will remain open.

Bosses thanked the community for loyal support since opening in 1986.

A spokesman said: “We took the decision very seriously and it was our first store to open.

“There’s a lot of emotion attached to the store and we’ve had a great deal of success there too. Shoppers feel surprised and sad about the closure and fed that back to staff in the shop.

“It’s sad to see the end of an era and we will keep looking for opportunities to return to Basildon.

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“The property freeholder has decided to install a new roof and it is simply not viable to remain open due to numerous health and safety considerations.

“The group have therefore taken the very difficult decision to close this location.”

The spokesman added that the other south Essex sites will keep stocking a “huge range of products from hardware, pet supplies, garden furniture, bedding, party supplies and many more”.

The spokesman said a return to Basildon is not off the table but there are no “live plans” as of yet for a new site .

The Basildon store closing-down sale starts today and bosses say there are huge discounts as they attempt to clear all stock.

The shop chain spokesman added: “The Factory Shops would like to thank its loyal customers within the Basildon community, and we hope you will shop with us at our other stores in Rochford, Leigh and Rayleigh.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all their hard-working staff across the years and wish them well for the future.”