ONE of Taunton's oldest family businesses is the latest victim of the high street crisis and will close after 186 years.

Staff at The County Stores, which boasts a food hall, and sells groceries and gifts in its three-storey premises in North Street, are being issued with redundancy notices.

The shop, run by five generations of the same family, has also housed Taunton Post Office since January 2014, when the latter relocated from the nearby building now occupied by Ask restaurant.

The business had been given a reprieve after the directors previously announced they were considering shutting in January last year

But director James Duder yesterday (Wednesday) told the County Gazette: "It will definitely close now.

"We haven't got a date yet, but we've given some staff their notice and they have an end date of employment. Other people haven't had their notice, but they will in time, depending on how long they've worked here.

"We're pulling out of running the post office. We just run the branch, so you'll have to ask Post Office what they're doing.

"I have mixed opinions and emotions about the closure."

Mr Duder would not confirm a member of staff's claims that some of the dozens of employees had been told they would lose their job on January 5.

He and his co-directors, sister Caroline Duder and father Hugh Duder, decided to pull the plug on 'The Harrods of the West Country' after several years of challenging trading conditions.

The business, which dates back to 1832, and the freehold premises had been on the market for a time, with the asking price recently reduced from £1.5 million to £1.1 million.

It is believed upmarket restaurant Côte came close to signing a deal to move into the restaurant at the end of last year but pulled out at the 11th hour.

Announcing the previous proposed closure, James Duder told the County Gazette: "Over the past few years, the high street retail environment has become very challenging, with lots of retailers struggling in the current retail climate.

"The situation has been no different at The County Stores and in recent months it has become apparent that, despite all our efforts, The County Stores cannot continue to trade with its current structure and size."

A Post Office spokeswoman said: “Following the resignation of the current postmaster, Taunton Post Office will close temporarily in early January.

"We would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience this may cause, as we know how important Post Office services are to the local community.

"We would like to reassure customers that we are committed to providing services in the area and are working hard to find a solution that will enable us to keep any temporary closure to a minimum.”