KWIK Save is to close one of its East Lancashire branches - but four others in the area have survived the axe.

Unions have hit out at the decision to close the Station Road store in Clitheroe and claimed staff should have been consulted more over the move.

But workers at branches in Accrington, Nelson and two in Burnley were breathing a sigh of relief after their stores were kept open.

Bosses revealed the details as they announced 79 Kwik Save stores were to close across the country.

A spokesman for Kwik Save would not say how many staff would be made redundant in Clitheroe, but USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) said between 10 and 15 jobs would be lost.

Union bosses said they would hold talks with other retailers in the area to see if they can employ staff who had lost their jobs.

Nigel Pratt, president of Clitheroe Chamber of Trade, said there was too much competition in the town from other super-markets including Booths, Tesco and Sains-bury's for Kwik Save to compete.

He said: "It is always sad when jobs are lost but I am not surprised the group has been in trouble for some time.

"It is the retail giants like Tesco that squeeze the smaller retailers out and there is probably an argument there were too many supermarkets in the town."

Joanne McGuinness, from USDAW, said members would be meeting with Kwik Save bosses to secure the future of the remaining stores.

Burnley Council leader Coun Gordon Birtwistle said it was a sign that the borough was improving after Kwik Save said the town's stores would not be closing.

The company said "Kwik Save would like to thank all staff affected by this regrettable situation for their commitment over the years."