BUILDERS' merchant Travis Perkins has confirmed it will not reopen its branch in Ross-on-Wye following the coronavirus lockdown.

The chain temporarily closed all of its branches from March 23 after Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled strict measures to try and limit the spread of Covid-19.

Since then, the firm has worked to reopen some of its branches as they had been on the list of essential services ahead of non-essential retail reopening on Monday (June 15).

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Local reports suggested the branch, at Ashburton Industrial Estate, would not reopen, and an email from branch manager Benjamin Woodruff confirmed that was the case.

"The branch is closed as of March 23 and will not reopen," an automatic email reply from Mr Woodruff said.

The Hereford Times has approached the firm for further comment.

It comes as Travis Perkins announced it 2,500 workers are set to lose their jobs. The firm said the decision comes as it expects the recession to hit the trade for at least two years.

Bosses plan to close 165 stores – mainly focusing on smaller Travis Perkins sites – also they said there were encouraging signs that building work is returning.

It is not yet known if any other branches in Herefordshire, including those in Ledbury, Hereford, Bromyard and Leominster, will be affected.

READ MORE: Travis Perkins announces 2,500 jobs and 165 stores to go

Chief executive Nick Roberts said: "Whilst we have experienced improving trends more recently, we do not expect a return to pre-Covid trading conditions for some time and consequently we have had to take the very difficult decision to begin consultations on the closure of selected branches and to reduce our workforce to ensure we can protect the Group as a whole.

"This is in no way a reflection on those employees impacted and we will do everything we can to support them during this process."