The Real Deal department store in Cinderford High Street closed its doors last week after months of speculation about its financial viability.

Doubts were further fuelled by the presence of protesters, believed to be disgruntled former employees, who stood outside the empty store on Saturday with placards demanding their wages be paid.

But the store's management claim the store is merely moving its stock from the former Westgate store to the basement of its other everyday goods store in the old Woolworths building next door.

"It's just a move to cut our costs," said a management spokesman. "We are opening up the basement and we can assure all our customers that all our lines are still available.

"We are just consolidating our position under one roof."

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