A SECOND Somerfield store is to close in Hampshire, it has been revealed.

Up to 40 full and part time jobs will be lost at the store in Salisbury Road, Totton, when it shuts down on April 29.

Staff were told of the shock closure earlier this week and received letters confirming the decision a few days later.

Anne Fisher, 60, who has worked part-time at the store for the last six years said: "It was a bolt out of the blue.

"There had been rumours going around for years and nothing had happened so we had no reason to be concerned. It's a shame because it's a lovely place to work and is well used by the local community. We have got a lot of old people who come to shop here as there are retirement flats nearby and they don't have to cross any busy roads."

As previously reported in the Daily Echo the axe has also fallen on the Somerfield store in Winchester city centre with the loss of 28 jobs.

All staff have been offered redundancy packages or the opportunity to transfer to other Somerfield stores in the region.