By Hayley Robinson

Tesco has denied it will be opening a store in The Forum shopping centre.

Rumours have been circulating that the supermarket giant was aiming to move into the premises being vacated by Somerfield.

The Co-operative Group, which has owned the Somerfield chain since last year, has announced the store is to shut next month.

It hopes to find new positions for the 37 workers there.

Rather than moving in, Tesco, which owns the Forum centre, says it plans to advertise the lease and find a new tenant.

A Co-operative Group spokesman said: "Staff at the store have been informed of the decision, which has been taken with the greatest reluctance.

"The closure is due to expiry of the lease. It is not, in any way, a reflection on the commitment and hard work of the store team. Every effort will be made to redeploy as many as possible of the eight full-time and 29 part-time staff with the Co-operative or to help them find alternative employment."