High street fashion brand PEP&CO is due to close its Gloucester store.

The Eastgate Shopping Centre-based shop has covered its windows in huge posters announcing its closing down sale.

The store opened in the popular Gloucester centre in 2015 as one of the budget retailers first 50 stores in what marked the beginning of a £20million investment in the UK.

Another outlet was opened earlier this year in Tewkesbury but further afield it is a mixed picture.

Closure has been announced of one of its store in Redhill's Belfry shopping centre in Surrey, but a new outlet is due to launch in The Oldbury Retail Park, Halesowen, Birmingham.

A statement from PEP&CO said: "Over the past 12 months we've been rapidly expanding PEP&CO so it's now available at over 300 Poundland stores - the nearest of which are in Cheltenham and Stroud. 

"These 'shop-in-shops' offer the same full range we had in our standalone stores.

"Nevertheless, we're very sad to be leaving Gloucester and we're making sure we do everything we can to find alternative roles for our colleagues."

It is understood Eastgate Shopping Centre has already had some interest in the retail space.