Staff have expressed sadness as House of Fraser in Reading closes its doors after 24 years today.

The department store - which opened along with the Oracle in 1999 - is shutting for good today.

Today The Chronicle visited the branch today to speak to staff and customers about their thoughts. 

Much of the store’s stock had been cleared out, with customers riffling through the last few remaining handbags which were up to an extra 20 per cent off sale price.

On the ground floor, the branch was even selling off clothes rails and store furniture from £20. 

Upon speaking to members of the public, it became apparent that many won’t miss this staple of Reading’s high street due to the ease of shopping online.

The shop opened as usual at 9 am with only a few shoppers getting in bright and early for their last chance to nab some bargains.

One may have expected there to be queues outside the door, but only around a dozen members of the public browsed the shop floor before 10 am.

The Chronicle spoke with customer Charlie Duffin and asked how she felt about House of Fraser’s closure.

“I had no idea today was its last day,” she said. “I don’t really go out shopping that much, I find it pretty boring now that everything’s online.”

She continued “I have found some good stuff today though” whilst referencing the growing stack of clothes she was carrying with her.

The ground floor of the store was spare with hundreds of racks standing completely empty, with £20 and £30 signs tapped to each one.

The Chronicle spoke to Chris Smit, a PTA member of Loddon Primary School, who was purchasing various clothes rails.

“We’re buying up the racks for school uniforms,” he said. “They’ve been selling all their fittings for a month now, and we knew this was the last day so they would be discounted even more.”

Upstairs a few more shoppers were browsing the women’s wear section. There were still several clothes rails full of underwear, and tables displaying the left-over designer shoes.

Other than the final dregs of unsold stock, the shop floor sported broken mannequins, show tables collecting dust, and empty shelves.

The Chronicle spoke with Customer Claire Balla, who wasn’t aware that this was House of Fraser’s last day.

“I don’t really shop on the high street that much, I’m not much of a shopper,” she said. “Not now everything is online now anyway.”

The Chronicle also spoke with members of staff at the tills and asked them how they felt about the store’s closure.

Team member Emily said: “It is really sad, and I feel bad for the people who have worked here for 20 years. They’ve offered some of us placements in other companies under The Fraser Group.”

Another member of staff Sky said: “I do feel really bad for those who were with the store for 20 years, some started work before you even needed a CV.”