AXMINSTER’S only department store will close its doors in September following ‘economic pressures’.

Owners, Goulds of Dorchester, have announced their decision to cease at Trinity House, which it says is ‘unprofitable’.

It is expected the store will close at the end of September this year, but the actual closing date is yet to be confirmed.

Goulds acquired Trinity House in 2015, and before that it was bought by the Spores/Roberts family in 1979.

The company also owns Fields in Sidmouth, Goulds in Dorchester’s South Street and Goulds Garden Centre in Weymouth.

Trinity House offers a ladies and men’s fashions, gifts and cards, a cookshop, accessories, shoes and linens.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Goulds said: “Despite having made a considerable investment in the business in an effort to make the Axminster store viable, current trading conditions, coupled with the continuing economic pressures on the department store sector, dictate that the business can no longer sustain an unprofitable branch store in Axminster.

“The company realise that this closure will be a major blow to the town, but even with the sympathetic support from the local landlords it has been impossible to stem the losses.

“In common with so many other retailers, we are suffering the effects of online competition and a change in shopping habits.

“We are deeply sorry at having to take this action, not least because our colleagues have done their utmost to help make the store successful, and our regular local customers will feel the disappointment of losing the only department store in town.”