EVESHAM'S Co-op and main post office is to close next spring with 34 jobs affected.

The shock announcement was made this week by the Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester Co-operative Society.

The store has not traded profitably for some time, said a spokesman for the society Adrian Barradell.

He said: "The significant increase in retail competition in the town has reinforced the decision and we have no option but to close the store."

The Society, in conjunction with Post Office Ltd, is now actively looking at possible alternative sites for the post office which relocated to the Co-op four years ago from its original building in the north end of the High Street.

As long-term partners operating almost 20 Co-op stores with post offices nationwide, representatives from Post Office Ltd were present when the Co-op broke the news to staff at the Riverside Centre in Evesham on Wednesday.

All supermarket staff will be offered new positions in Co-op stores in the area including the recently acquired and refurbished Co-op Swift Shop at Davies Road, Evesham.

Head of the area for Post Office Ltd, Paul Maisey said: "We will, as a matter of urgency, be considering all options available to us.

"We'll work closely with the Co-op and explore every avenue possible to find alternative partners and premises in Evesham to maintain main Post Office provision in the town."