SHOP staff were in tears in York today as fashion store group C&A announced it would close all its UK stores with the loss of 4,800 jobs.

Shoppers outside the chain's Coppergate store, which was closed until 11.15am as managers delivered the bombshell to staff, also reacted with shock.

The company, which employs 35 part-time workers and one full-time manager in York, is thought to have been hit by the difficult UK clothing market.

Last year C&A's UK business made losses of £250 million, the company said.

A member of staff at another Coppergate Centre shop said the closure news had sent a shock wave through the whole centre.

She said: "There was a group of female members of C&A staff breaking down in floods of tears out in the loading bay. People are absolutely gutted. They just didn't expect it at all.

"The news has spread like wildfire throughout the Coppergate Centre. It makes you worry that your own job might not be that safe."

A spokesman from Land Securities, owners of the store leased to C&A in York, moved to reassure shoppers and store workers that the news did not reflect the trading position in York as a whole.

"The C&A decision is part of their national strategy for store closures and does not reflect on the Coppergate Centre or York in general," he said.

"There is still considerable demand among retailers for any units that become available. We will naturally be in discussions with C&A and of course other retailers who have an interest in having a presence in the Coppergate Centre."

Roland Harris, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, saw the C&A announcement as "a great disappointment.

He said: "We understand the difficulties that have existed for some time in the retail sector. It is a highly competitive market place and inevitably there are casualties along the way.

"It is obviously regrettable that we see C&A suffering in this way. However, the York scene remains one of relative - I stress relative - buoyancy and I hope that we will be able to replace C&A in due course."

Shoppers in York were amazed to find the store's doors closed this morning. One said: "I'm a regular C&A shopper and I'm absolutely staggered. I was here to buy something for an evening do tonight. It's a terrible shame."

At 11.15am today, the store finally opened its doors and shoppers began to enter - many unaware of the announcement in the two-hour closure that went before. Staff immediately began putting up sales notices in the store.

An unnamed store manager gave a written statement from Head Office, but refused to make any further comment and warned reporters not to speak to staff.

Shopper Tracy Flannery from Strensall said: "I was just bringing back something I'd bought and I can't believe the news. It's a real shock."

Another woman shopper added: "There's just been no warning at all. There are some lovely clothes in their Sixth Sense range, and I just can't understand it."

C&A managing drector Neil McCausland said today: "This is a sad and difficult decision for the company. C&A has been part of the British high street for over 75 years and was determined to remain so. Unfortunately, business conditions do not allow this to happen."

A C&A spokesman said most of the closures would not take place before Christmas, although up to three stores could close before Christmas.