Kwik Save in MelkshamSHOPPERS who use a threatened Kwik Save store have vowed to fight its closure, which they say could affect hundreds of residents.

People living in Melksham are vowing tom boycott the store's parent company Somerfield if bosses go ahead with the plan to shut the store in Market Place on August 2.

Town councillors will discuss what action to take at a meeting on June 6, while several have already written to Somerfield's chief executive Steve Back. If the store closes, 15 staff will lose their jobs, but campaigners are also worried about the effect the closure will have on elderly people living close by.

Residents living in sheltered accommodation in Wharf Court, Thornleigh, Thornbank, Crown House, Giffords Court and Orchard Gardens could all be affected.

Pauline Baker, 72, who lives in Market Place, said she uses the store up to five times a week, and branded the closure threat as disgraceful.

"I estimate there will be 1,000 people in this corner of the town who are going to have a service taken away from them," she said.

"I buy a lot of my goods there so it will be horrendous for me.

"I know you cannot live on convenience forever but this is a very short-sighted decision and I will boycott Somerfield and encourage all of my friends to do the same. It is all about the location for people. A lot of people do not have cars to get to the other end of town."

Former mayor Terri Welch is one of the town councillors to write a letter to Somerfield to complain about the proposed closure.

"Staff were assured their jobs would be safe and it seems this is not in fact the case," she said.

"This is going to be hugely detrimental to the town because there are many dwellings specifically for the elderly in this part of town.

"As a company they are not helping the environment as more people will have to use their cars to get through the town to the other stores."

Brian Mudge, a West Wiltshire district councillor, said in a letter to Somerfield's chief executive he thought the firm was putting profits before people.

A spokesman for Somerfield, based in Bristol, said the decision was made to close the store after an extensive business review.

She said: "All 15 employees are currently in consultation to establish potential opportunities at other local stores with redundancy packages available to those we cannot place. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff and customers for their support over the years."

The spokesman said it was too early to say what would happen to the building.