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Tesco has confirmed it is set to close its Metro store on Belfast's Royal Avenue in the next year as its "lease comes to an end".

It said it had been a "difficult decision", but would continue to serve customers from other Belfast stores.

It added that it is "planning to open a new Express store in the city centre".

It is understood Tesco was paying rent of about £1m a year on the shop. The lease is due to expire in October next year.

The store reopened in May 2019, almost nine months after being forced to close due to the Primark fire.

Belfast deputy lord mayor Paul McCusker said it was "another blow" for the city centre.

"This is a very popular store in Belfast city centre in an iconic building," he added.

"We need to ensure that all the staff working here will have their jobs protected.

"I will be writing to the minister for the Department of Economy and Belfast City Council economic development unit following this terrible news."

Retail facing huge challenges

Belfast Chamber chief executive Simon Hamilton said the announcement "should act as a spur to the NI Executive to take the need to rejuvenate city and town centres more seriously".

"The retail sector has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic," he added.

"It was already facing huge challenges, but the restrictions imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19 are massive and will be felt for some time to come."

He called on ministers to "work closely with stakeholders" to form a task force "that focuses on how we can breathe renewed life back into our city and town centres".

Tesco said it would "work with all colleagues who wish to find an alternative role in one of our other Belfast stores".

"We continue to invest in Northern Ireland, with over 9,000 colleagues in 56 stores."

Tesco has indicated that it does not not expect the Metro store to "close within the next six months".

It expects the store to close "when the lease ends in the next 12 months".