Waitrose stores in Worcester and Droitwich are safe from closure. 

Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, which owns the upmarket supermarket chain, announced that the group will make almost no profits over the last half year and does not expect good figures at the end of the year.

To help cut costs Sir Charlie announced the group would close four city centre convenience stores and a small supermarket soon - but those branches are in Manchester, London and Birmingham.

John Lewis has been spending millions on pounds of completely reconfiguring the Beechwood Arcade in Cheltenham before a major new branch opens later in the year.