A SUPERMARKET chain is pulling out of a town just two years after opening.

Morrisons is closing its MLocal store in High Road, Rayleigh.

The store opened in 2013 in what had previously been Blockbuster and will close on Sunday, July 26.

Carl Watson, chairman of Rayleigh Chamber of Trade, said it was a shame to lose a big name from the town centre, but hoped the opening of a new Marks & Spencer food hall would more than make up for the closure.

He said: “I had heard through the grapevine things weren’t going well for M Local and it had reduced its hours.

“It’s always disappointing when a supermarket moves out of town, but the difficulty, I suppose, was the location as it wasn’t so easy for people to get to and from it.

“It’s a sad loss when any business closes, regardless of size, but we do have M&S moving in which will hopefully enhance the town and bring more people in.”

Ian Ward, who represents Lodge on Rochford District Council, said he was disappointed, but could not see the unit left by M Local staying empty for long.

He added: “As far as Rayleigh is concerned, I don’t think it will make a big difference, even though it’s a shame we’re losing a shop.

“Looking on the positive side, whoever will take that particular shop will be looking at the potential of the town, so I don’t think it will remain unoccupied for too long.

“Toys and Tuck on the other end of the High Street was replaced by an interesting shop a couple of weeks ago and the tea shop that was along Eastwood Road has reopened under new management by Pied a Terre.

“We’re very fortunate in Rayleigh that, as far as our high street is concerned, it’s a pretty thriving little town.”

The closure in Rayleigh follows an announcement by Morrisons in March that it would be closing 23 stores ,with the loss of 300 jobs nationwide.