A WELL-KNOWN store in Wrexham has temporarily closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Value retailer QD – QualityDiscounts.com have confirmed that all of its stores, including the one located on Hope Street, will cease operation from March 30 until further notice.

However, it is now unclear whether the Wrexham store will reopen again, after employees were recently informed that it was set to close in May of this year, with 18 full and part time jobs under threat.

Group chief executive, Nick Rubins, said: "We would like to thank our amazing staff who have done an incredible job in providing our communities with the products they needed, when they needed them most.

"We have supplied hundreds of thousands of toilet rolls, food galore from pasta to strawberry jam, pet food for our four-legged friends and countless bottles of cleaning products.

"However, it has come to a point where the wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is more important than anything else.

"As the Covid-19 infection rates multiply and the strain on the NHS increases, it is with a heavy heart that we have made the very difficult decision to temporarily close all of our stores, despite our classification as an essential retailer."

Following the announcement made by Prime Minister, Boris Johnson on March 23, that all shops that are classed as 'an essential service retailer' are allowed to stay open during the virus pandemic, the retailer took the decision to remain open with extra precautions being put in place to ensure the protection of staff and shoppers.

Mr Rubins, added: "We would like to say a big thank you to everyone at the QD Group who have been outstanding during this exceptionally tough time and to each and every one of our customers for their continued support.

"We will be back serving our communities as soon as we safely can.

"Please take care of each other and stay healthy and, most importantly of all, if you can, stay home, save lives."

Whilst the stores are closed, the QD Group will continue to provide the public with products via their online home delivery service (www.QualityDiscounts.com)