People have been left shocked and saddened after a city centre discount store closed its doors for the final time last Saturday.

Poundland, in North Street, Brighton, is now "permanently closed" after the company could not afford to renew the lease of the building.

Since the closure, people from across the city have expressed sadness, especially for the staff members whose jobs have been put at risk.

Debbie McCluskey said: "Poor staff losing their jobs."

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One person, Stephanie Diane Starlet, specifically mentioned one of the workers at the store who she said is the "most lovely" shop assistant she has ever met.

She said: "The French lady that worked there is the most lovely, polite, charming and very helpful assistant I have ever come across in any shop anywhere in the world ever.

"She deserves some kind of award and I hope she is kept by the company."

People have also speculated on what the retail unit could be turned into now it is empty, with some arguing that the previous shop needed "rebranding" anyway as prices were often higher than a pound.

Tim Moose Bruce said: "It'll probably be another coffee shop."

Heidi Hogan said: "Wonder if it’ll become another vape shop."

A spokesman for Poundland said: “The store closed on February 24 as sadly, we’ve been unable to renew the lease.

"It goes without saying we work hard to find other opportunities for colleagues in these circumstances and we have two other stores close by.

"We look forward to welcoming customers to those stores on London Road and Western Road which are both just a short walk away – they both carry much wider ranges than we could accommodate at North Street.”