LAST GOODBYE

More than 30 staff lose their jobs as Debenhams closes for good Sadness as shutters come down for last time on three-storey shop

More than 30 members of staff lost their jobs when Debenhams closed for good on Sunday, leaving a huge hole in the town’s retail offering.

Bosses ditched their giant County Square store after 11 years of trading as part of their debt restructuring plans, which will see 22 stores axed across the country.

Hundreds of job losses have been reported nationwide, with 31 staff members at the three-storey Ashford site being made redundant.

Debenhams was scheduled to close at 4pm on Sunday, but it shut two hours early as staff ran out of stock.

Dedicated workers gathered on the middle floor and served the remaining customers as they neared the end of their final shift.

The last item to go through the till was a pair of women’s trousers - costing just 50p.

Colleagues remained in high spirits despite the imminent closure, and the last customers to leave the store were greeted with a round of applause.

After all the shoppers had departed, a tannoy went off for a final time and staff watched on as the shutters closed for good.

Days before the closure, workers were seen packing up goods and shoppers scurried around the huge store in a bid to secure last-minute bargains.

The upper floor had been closed off, with a barrier placed around the escalator to discourage customers from going any further.

Closing down sales which had been running since October - saw stock heavily reduced throughout the shop, with huge discounts and savings on clothing, homeware and toys.

In an open letter to customers and colleagues, Debenhams bosses said: “On Sunday, January 19, Debenin hams closed its doors Ashford for the last time.

“We would like to thank all our customers for your support over the years.

“While this store has now closed, Debenhams remains open for business.

“We would also like to thank the local team and our colleagues in the store, who have continued to deliver great service despite the news of the store closure.

“Once again we would like to thank everyone who has shopped with us in Ashford since 2008 and we look forward to welcoming you to our online shop or extending a warm welcome to you at any of our stores in the future.” As revealed by the Kentish Express earlier this month, a model railway centre could move into part of the empty store.

Bosses behind the Ashford InterModel national Railway Excellence Centre, also known as AIMREC, are in discussions with the owners of County Square about taking over one of the floors in the huge department shop.

■ What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, Unit 4, Park Mall shopping centre, Ashford, TN24 8RY or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk

Picture provided by Alan Taylor Bobby’s - pictured circa 1930s - was in the Sandgate Road, Folkestone, store before Debenhams