READING shoppers say it is a ‘great shame’ to lose a convenient retailer next month.

Next confirmed on Wednesday, February 9, it is ‘permanently closing’ its store in Calcot.

The store will cease trading on Saturday, March 12.

Last week, haberdashery store Fabric Land announced it would be closing its doors in Cheapside after 25 years of service.

The family business announced it was facing hardship due to ‘not having enough customers’.

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Customers expressed their upset over the two shops closing down.

Naidu Shureena said: “I was shocked to see that 26 March would be their last day. I will miss Fabric Land a lot.”

Brenda Newport added: “This is a shame for all those knitting, crafting and sewing people out there. These skills used to be passed on, but doesn’t happen now so much. It’s forcing more people to have to shop online now.”

However, Erik Sehnsucht isn’t surprised independent businesses are closing down when people shop online instead.

He said: “Cue hundreds of people claiming to love the place but haven’t been there in years. Surprise everyone, shops need customers, that’s literally how they survive.”

Jo Hewlett commented on the Next closure.

She said: “That’s a shame. They’ve already closed Brunel. Just the town centre ones left.”

Laura Grover added: “This is a real shame for those who don’t have time to go into town. This was convenient for a lot of people. I’m sure it’s going to be a great loss, especially as we have recently lost the Brunel one too.”

Next has a store in The Oracle shopping centre, however many shoppers are put off by the idea of having to park in the town centre.

Vivienne Martin said: “I definitely won’t be shopping in the Oracle store, they don’t have a good selection of clothes like the Calcot store and prices to park in Reading are ridiculous.”

Other shoppers leaped at the idea of a B&M store replacing Next in Calcot.

A rumour circulated on social media and local Facebook groups that the bargain retailer would be opening instead.

A member of the Tilehurst Gossip Girls Facebook page said: “Just found out Next at Calcot is closing in four weeks and being replaced by B&M.”

B&M has not confirmed this to be true.