RESIDENTS are concerned over rumours that a high street supermarket may be planning to leave a rural market town just 15months after opening there.

Councillor Gareth Dadd, who covers Thirsk for North Yorkshire and Hambleton District councils, claims he has heard rumours of Lidl’s closure in the town.

He has written to the high street supermarket to ask what the situation is and to clarify it for locals.

He said: "I have become concerned at rumours recently circulating the area regarding the Thirsk store’s future.

"After the store was widely welcomed as an addition to the retail offering within Thirsk, I am seeking clarification to the suggestion that it may be considering closing.

"I remember well the swell of support during the planning process and this leaves me somewhat perplexed when these rumours circulate.

"I am sure Lidl will agree it can only be beneficial to it and the town to remove any shred of doubt and give us confidence that a void shall not exist on what is a major retail landmark."

The Lidl store, in Thirsk, opened in July 2009 at a cost of £4m and it is just outside the centre of the market town.

It is located on Newsham Road near to Thirsk Racecourse and it is opposite the town’s other major supermarket Tesco.

The store employs 25 local people and it provided an economic boost to the Thirsk area and it was generally well received by locals.

Councillor Derek Adamson, mayor of Thirsk, uses the store which has German beginnings as he has previously lived in Germany.

He said: "It would be a shame if it does close as the brands are alternatives to normal goods and with the lower prices it should have been an asset to Thirsk.

"I could understand it if it does close as the locals don’t use it very much possibly because most of the brands aren’t English.

"There’s nothing wrong with the quality of the goods on sale there in Thirsk and I was there earlier this week."

The company dates back to Thirties Germany, when Lidl and Schwarz Grocery Wholesale began to trade just before the Second World War.

The store changed its name to Lidl in 1973 and the supermarket arrived in the UK in 1994 where it now has over 500 shops.

A Lidl spokesman said: "There is absolutely no truth in this rumour.

"Lidl remain committed to providing a high quality retail offer to the residents of Thirsk and surrounding districts."