OWNERS of the Midcounties Co-operative Food store in Stourport have confirmed the shop will be sold following a strategic review.

In January, Co-op Midcounties announced it had identified a small number of stores which did not fit its long-term strategy, which included the Lombard Street branch, but bosses said no decision had been made on the shop's future.

Since then, the board has approved an offer to sell the site to an undisclosed buyer, and owners say the legal process to progress the sale is now under way.

A spokesman for Co-op Midcounties said: “Following a full strategic review of its food retail business, Co-op Midcounties identified a small number of stores which in their current format do not fit with the long-term strategy of the society.

"This includes the Stourport store.

"The Co-op Midcounties board have now approved an offer to sell the site to new owners and the legal process to progress the sale is now underway. The store continues to trade as normal at the current time."

The Stourport store was reopened in 2016 following a £1.2m renovation, which saw the introduction of new facilities and services to create a "village under one roof".

The 17-week renovation project welcomed a Post Office, Coffee Republic cafe, Co-operative Healthcare and Co-operative Travel to the site.

A Co-op Midcounties spokesman added: “We intend to continue to operate the existing Post Office and Travel store, either at the current site or relocated to an alternative site in Stourport.

"Healthcare will also remain, however this will in future be operated by a new owner.

"We will continue to provide colleagues, members and customers with updates as this moves forwards.”