It has been announced that a Wellington pharmacy will be closed.

The Boots pharmacy by the Wellington Medical Centre on Mantle Street is now slated to be shut next year.

In a message to patients, the Medical Centre's practice manager, Lydia Daniel-Baker confirmed the news, confirming it would be closed by February 12, 2024. She said:

"I am disappointed to tell you that the Boots pharmacy next door will be closing permanently on February 12, 2024.

"There will be meetings between us over the next few weeks and months regarding the transfer of patients to alternative pharmacies.

"Our patient participation group has been informed."

The news comes as the pharmaceutical chain prepares to shutter 300 stores nationwide, a move which sparked fears Wellington could lose its town centre Boots.

It is understood this latest closure is part of Boots calls its 'consolidation programme' - but they insist employees will be offered alternative roles in other Boots stores rather than being made redundant.

A spokesperson for Boots said closures tended to fall on stores where another Boots branch was within 2 kilometres, indicating Wellington's Boots on the High Street is set to remain open for the foreseeable future.

It comes after the pharmaceutical retailer reported a rise in customers shopping online. The programme of closures will see 1,900 Boots stores remain across the UK by 2024, down from 2,200.