RISING rates and other overheads were blamed for the sudden closure of the Spar shop in Richmond market place yesterday.

The ten staff learned two weeks ago that they would be redundant when business ceased this week but most have managed to find new jobs.

Spar area manager Mr Gareth Lloyd said the decision was not taken lightly and the company was sorry to be pulling out of the town. However, Richmond was too costly a place to trade, he said.

"It is purely down to economic reasons and operating costs, such as business rates, in the Richmond area," he said. "We have been here six years and have done a lot of work improving the premises, so we are sad to leave."

Competition from supermarkets, including the Co-op in town and Tesco at Catterick Garrison, had also hit town centre traders.

No plans were in the pipeline for the vacant premises but it is known the town's main post office is looking for a suitable town centre site for relocation to allow its Queen's Road base to be converted to a pub and restaurant.

Spar operated 67 shops in the area, including one at Catterick Garrison, which would remain open, said Mr Lloyd.

The Richmond market place building had been a shop for more than 40 years, opening as Hinton's in the 1960s, then trading as Presto before Spar took over.