BEALES are still quitting Cinderford with the loss of 20 jobs even though they have been offered to stay in the town rent free.

Their Co-op landlords were painted as villains when Beales said they had to close the town centre store because the lease had come to an end.

But bosses at the Co-op have now confirmed that Beales turned down an offer of a rent free lease on the Cinderford store.

Ben Reid, CEO of The Midcounties Co-operative, told the Cinderford Town Council local people had been 'misinformed' and Beales were leaving for commercial reasons.

Beales chief executive Michael Hitchcock said he could not discuss commercially sensitive information.

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