Dismay greeted the shock news the Morrisons supermarket in the centre of Swindon may close.

The 113 staff at the store in Regent Circus were told yesterday morning that bosses at the chain are thinking about shutting up shop.

The Adver understands the doors could close in November.

A spokesman for the supermarket chain said: “We are constantly reviewing opportunities for new stores and the performance of our existing estate. We are planning to invest in four new stores this year and are today, regrettably, proposing to close our Swindon Regent Circus store. We will now be going through a consultation process at the store and will be discussing how to reduce redundancies and, where possible, redeploy our highly-valued colleagues within the business.”

Workers at the store were called in to see management yesterday. Staff were said to be upset, with some crying, while others were angry.

Shoppers were also uphappy. Angie Taylor, 33, from town centre, said: “I live round the corner. It’s a supermarket that we use regularly. I’ve got two young children and getting down to town is difficult. It’s easier when it’s on your doorstep.”

Emma Hillier, 34, from North Swindon, said: “It’s such a shame, really. It’s used by so many people and we need something up at this end of town.”

Pam Willey, 60, from Wroughton, said: “It’s busy from what I can see. It must be doing well. I’ve been sat here for a few minutes and plenty of people have been coming in and out the whole time.”

Gordon Smith, 67, cut a more downbeat tone: “I do use it, yes. If they’re closing it what can you do about it? They’ve opened it far too soon and now they are suffering for it.”

The Regent Circus store is one of four UK branches which might be closed, the others being Ince near Wigan , Shirley, near Solihull and Crawley in West Sussex.

A spokesman for the shop workers’ union USDAW said the chain had told them they were unprofitable, and that even its ‘best estimates’ suggested losses would continue

Joanne McGuinness , national officer for the union, said: “This is devastating news for the staff affected. We will now enter into meaningful consultations with the company to look at the business for their proposals. In the meantime we are providing our members with the support, advice and representation they need at this difficult time.

“The ongoing crisis in retail is impacting all companies as we see an increasing number of job losses and store closures across the industry. We need urgent government action and an industrial strategy for retail to help our high streets and save our shops.”

Dale Heenan, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for the town centre, said: “We are disappointed to learn of Morrisons’ intention to close one of its three Swindon stores. The company has been a valued business on the site for the past five years, making a significant contribution to the local economy.

“Supermarkets, like all retailers, are facing a challenging time across the country and Morrisons is no different. We have been assured that the company will be conducting a comprehensive consultation process to support those staff affected.“Swindon has an average of 25 per cent fewer empty shops than the national average and the Regent Circus site is prime retail space likely to attract interest from other organisations. We will do all we can to support finding a new occupier and we are open to all ideas to help businesses.”

The supermarket opened in late 2014 as one of the anchors of the Regent Circus regeneration project which followed the demolition on Swindon College.