CONCERNED Tadley shoppers were thrown a lifeline by Sainsbury's this week after the supermarket firm announced it is considering laying on special buses to its other local stores when Budgens closes.

Sir George Young, Tadley's MP, has called for part of the store to remain open, or for buses to be provided to help marooned shoppers in the area - and he praised the public for making their voices heard.

Sainsbury's last week announced that the Mulfords Hill store would close for refurbishment and extension work for six months from October.

While Sainsbury's was this week trying to ease the fears of Tadley people, it emerged that the staff at Budgens had no idea about the six-month closure plan until they read about it in last Friday's edition of The Tadley Gazette.

Sir George was "delighted" to hear that Sainsbury's was considering special buses, and revealed he wrote to the chairman of Sainsbury's himself after being contacted by a number of constituents.

He said: "I think this is a good example of public opinion through the local newspaper to persuade big companies to think again.

"This will raise the profile of the supermarket in the area and help to build up a good relationship with people in Tadley."

The company says it is unlikely that the store could remain partially open because of the complex nature of the extension, which will affect the front, side and rear of the building.

A statement from the company said: "During any temporary closure period, all staff (at Budgens) will be offered a number of opportunities, including temporary transfer to other nearby Sainsbury's stores, for which full training and development will be provided, or take leave until the extended store opens.

"The company will keep any temporary closure as short as possible and the introduction of measures, such as a dedicated bus service to nearby Sainsbury's stores, are being considered to help minimise inconvenience to local shoppers during the construction period."

News of the six-month closure plan was one of two blows for Tadley last week. The Ministry of Defence also announced that the alcohol licence was to be taken away from the AWE social club - popularly known as the Rec Soc and a well-known venue for social events - because it was felt inappropriate for a nuclear site to have alcohol served on the premises.

Tadley Town Council chairman Cllr David Leeks this week called on local people to have their say on the Budgens and Rec Soc issues.

He said: "We are a small town and we are losing facilities - we haven't got that many in the first place. What we do have is very precious and I hope people can have an impact because it would be nice to get something reversed."