More than 30 workers at the Oxford branch of fashion group C&A are to lose their jobs after the company announced it was closing all its UK stores.

Shocked staff at the Westgate shop were told by manager Simon Grover that the shop would close its doors for the last time within nine months.

A total of 4,800 jobs will be lost across the UK. Mr Grover, who has worked for the company since 1988, said: "This came with no warning at all. We are all stunned and saddened by the news.

"My priority is now to my staff. Any new tenant who buys this retail space will be encouraged to take them on."

He added that a number of customers had approached staff to tell them how sorry they were that the store, which first opened in 1972, was closing. "This announcement has come as a shock," Mr Grover added, "but staff have taken it with good British backbone."

Shopper Sylvia Joyce, 40, of Old Abingdon Road, Oxford, said in the store yesterday: "It's very good value at C&A and I will miss it."

Carolyn Smith, 45, of Bampton, near Witney, who was buying shoes, added: "You can get good quality sensible clothes for reasonable prices." Fraisia Bruist, 20, of Rowell Way, Chipping Norton, said C&A provided fashionable clothes at inexpensive prices.

C&A said: "When the lease in Oxford comes up for renewal we will sell it on.

"This is prime retail space so we hope someone will buy it."