OLD Market's Yankee Candle store has closed, a centre manager has confirmed.

Staff at the Hereford shop took to social media last week to say they had been given just two days notice of the impending closure, leaving them without jobs in the run-up to Christmas.

The store opened at the complex in November last year, taking over the unit formerly occupied by Swarovski.

But the future of the candle store was thrown into doubt in April this year, when the unit was listed by letting agency Green & Partners for an annual rent of £47,500, with a service charge of £3,324 and business rates of around £20,500 also payable.

The unit remains listed on the London-based letting agency's website today.

The store joins units 26 and 28 - previously occupied by Chimichanga and Prezzo - in being listed by the commercial estate agents.

Both restaurant units have been empty since early 2018, when parent company Prezzo's financial difficulties resulting in nationwide closures.

Alan Anderson, centre manager at Old Market, said: “We can confirm that Yankee Candle has closed and we’re in discussions with other operators about the space.

"We have a broad variety of great retail and restaurant brands here at Old Market and are constantly looking to recruit the best brands and ones we know our shoppers want.”