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Historic Porthmadog department store Kerfoots is to close after 140 years.

Liquidators have been called into the business today and it has ceased to trade.

This has seen 22 staff made redundant with immediate effect.

The shop - thought to be the oldest department store in North Wales - sold clothing, food and homeware and also included a cafe.

Robert Rutherford, liquidator with Parkin S Booth, told the Daily Post a creditors meeting will now take place next month.

He said the store was an institution in the town and he believed there would be interest in the shop.

The news has shocked the town with the store at the heart of the High Street since 1874.

A sign in the store said the business had been hit by a decline in footfall, “extreme” overheads, and online competition.

Staff thanked all their loyal customers for their many years of support.

Gwynedd Cllr Nia Jeffreys, from Porthmadog, said: "My heart goes out to friends who received such bad news today.

"This is a blow for Porthmadog.

"It’s sadly part of a wider trend across the UK with department stores like House of Fraser struggling.

"Despite this Porthmadog is a vibrant town with a strong community and lots of great shops - we will pull together.

"I hope a buyer can be found for this fabulous building with it’s impressive feature staircase and magnificent ceilings."

Cllr Selwyn Griffiths said: "This is a sad day, the store has been part and parcel of the town for many, many years. My concern is with the staff affected, this will have a big impact on the town.

"I will now work to do what I can to help bring a new business into that unit."

Mari Gwenllian, a shopper at Kerfoots, said: "This is such sad news, Kerfoots in its heyday was always regarded as the Harrods of North Wales.

"It had a wonderful cafe, and fantastic quality kitchenware where you couldn't get anywhere else in the area.

"It's also a very imposing building, and will be a huge loss to Porthmadog.

"I feel terribly sorry for the staff, as many probably worked there for years and years."

Liz Saville Roberts MP said: "I am saddened to learn of the closure of Kerfoots, Porthmadog – a uniquely iconic shop which has been a staple of Porthmadog high street for nearly 150 years.

"This is a blow for the town and I extend my sympathies to all the staff affected by today’s announcement.

"I am confident that the community will rally together, as they always do, and steps taken to secure this fantastic building.

"Should anyone affected by the closure require advice or support, my office stands ready to assist where we can."