Shopkeepers in Broad Street Mall have expressed their worries following the collapse of high street giant Wilko.

Taking up a large unit on the first floor of the town centre mall, Wilkinson has had a huge presence in the shopping complex for over a decade with many loyal customers visiting it every week.

As the closing date approaches, other businesses have started to contemplate how the subsequent loss of the Wilko customers could affect them.

Speaking to the Chronicle, employees across some of the smaller independent shops said that the disappearance of Wilko could subsequently cause a drop in footfall.

Salem Mohammad, an employee from a phone shop in Broad Street Mall said: “It’s not good for other shops in here and I think that it will definitely have a negative effect for other stores, including us.

“The majority of customers come into Broad Street Mall for Wilko, TK Max and to use the NHS services. When one of them is taken away,I can imagine that it will affect the amount of customers.

“I’ve always found that Wilko provides good customer service, and they always are able to help you find what you’re looking for. I think that is something that customers will miss.

Mrs Krupa Patel, a full-time member of staff at a clothing store in Broad Street Mall added: “They shouldn’t be closing it. It means that there is no Wilko in Reading anymore.

“It might mean that Savers will maybe get busy now because it is a discount store. It probably won’t affect us but it may mean that the café will get less business.

“If it is replaced with a good store however it will be good for the town.”

Another employe, Ms Emma Crump said: “I worry about the effects of the footfall in the centre. There will be a lot of traffic lost.

“The loss of a big unit will reduce the amount of people coming through the shopping centre.”