MORRISONS has announced it is to close 11 stores after a huge drop in profits.

The supermarket chain, which has stores in Yate and at Cribbs Causeway, has reported a 47 per cent drop in half yearly pre-tax profits of £126million.

Around 900 staff are at risk of losing their jobs in the store closures, which will not affect either South Gloucestershire branch.

It was announced on Wednesday (September 15) that the stores to close are mainly small supermarkets and include two in the West Country, one in Clevedon and one in Burnham-on-Sea. The others are in in the north of England, London and the West Midlands.

David Potts, who took over as chief executive in March, said: "This is a difficult decision but one which we cannot see any way through to make those stores viable."

Morrisons had already announced it was selling 140 loss-making M local convenience stores for about £25million. The shops will be rebranded as My Local and the 2,300 staff employed at the stores will be kept on.

The closures are part of a £1billion savings plan.