A town mayor has expressed sadness over the expected closure of a carpet shop - and said if it were to close the building should be used for a children's activity.

Carpetright, which filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators after a fall in demand and a major cyber attack in April, has now been bought in a rescue deal by rival Tapi. 

However, its new owners are set to shut over 200 stores and cut more than 1,000 jobs across the country, with 213 shops expected to close over the coming days, four of which are in Suffolk.  

Carpetright SudburyCarpetright Sudbury (Image: Google maps)

These are located at Ransoms Retail Park in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft and Sudbury.

Sudbury mayor Alison Owen has voiced her sadness at the prospect of the Carpetright store at the Shawlands Retail Park closing its doors.

Alison Owen, Sudbury mayor, said: "I am sad to hear that Carpetright have filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators and that the Sudbury branch will close.

"I am hoping the building will not stay empty for long and Sudbury residents will shop locally for their carpets and floor coverings. We are lucky to have more than one carpet shop in Sudbury."

Sudbury mayor Alison OwenSudbury mayor Alison Owen (Image: Sudbury Town Council)

Cllr Owen said if the unit becomes empty she would like to see it transformed into something for young people to enjoy.

"As mayor my charities are all about children - I'm supporting the Eden project youth club and Abi's footprints - so I would love to see something like ten pin bowling or a child's activity there," she added.

Two Suffolk stores will be saved in the deal - the shop at Anglia Park in Ipswich and the Newmarket store in Oaks Drive.

Tapi has agreed to buy 54 Carpetright stores, two warehouses, the brand and its intellectual property in a pre-pack administration deal.

The deal will not save the Carpetright head office in Purfleet, Essex.