A BUDGENS food store in Abingdon taken over by the Co-op will close for refurbishment next week.

The company has run a mini-supermarket at the site since 1999 but a sign has gone up to warn customers it will close on Tuesday. It will reopen in August.

About 15 Budgens stores in London and the south east were sold to the Co-op earlier this year, including the Northcourt Road store, where there is a post office counter.

Manager Ben Scholes said about 20 staff have been told they have the opportunity to transfer to the Co-op.

Mr Scholes said: "Budgens opened in October 1999 and before that it was a Co-op.

"The majority of staff will be moving across and the post office facility will stay.

"Staff were told about this some time ago and we have been waiting for the deal to be approved."

Mr Scholes expected opening hours to remain "pretty much the same" but closing time could be extended from 10pm to 11pm.

He added: "The store could be closed for a number of weeks so that new fascia can be fitted and a new design fitted inside. We don't yet have a confirmed date for the store to reopen."

Budgens also runs a store on the town's Peachcroft estate but it is not one of those taken over by the Co-op Group.

A spokesperson for the Co-op said: "We have bought the Budgens in Abingdon.

"The shop will be redefined with a focus on fresh, healthy foods and essentials, and will offer an improved in-store bakery range.

"It will be one of the first to feature the Co-op’s iconic new blue clover-leaf branding.

"The store will be closed for several weeks while it is refitted as a Co-op, but the post office will remain open throughout."