Witham could lose another big name retailer.

Dorothy Perkins in the Newlands Shopping Centre, Witham, is understood to be closing by early October.

The women’s clothes store is believed to have been at the centre since 1987 and employs about nine staff, who were said to be devastated.

It is understood they were told about the threatened closure on August 22.

The nearest branches are in Maldon, Braintree and Chelmsford.

Parent company Arcadia Group did not respond to requests for a comment.