Argos workers face a bleak Christmas after a shock announcement that the Wilmslow  store will close next month.

Staff are understood to have been called into an emergency meeting on Monday to be given the news. The shop, a mainstay on Alderley Road for 37 years, is due to close on January 20.

It is one of 12 nationwide facing the axe. Argos was unable to tell the Express how many workers will be affected by the Wilmslow closure.

Management have reportedly told staff they will be offered either redundancy or a transfer to another store, if  positions are  available.

An Argos spokeswoman confirmed the store would shut next month, adding: “Argos is exploring alternative working opportunities for the affected employees at Wilmslow wherever possible.”

She recommended customers go to nearby stores in Macclesfield, Wythenshawe and Stockport and said 15 new stores had opened over the past year.

“Argos is continuing to invest in its store network through new openings and an ongoing refurbishment programme.”

But Steve Morris, chairman of Wilmsow Business Group and manager of the town’s Sainsbury’s, said that investment would bring little relief to Wilmslow workers.

He said: “I have already had three workers come in to the shop to ask for jobs – this is very, very sad news. We know many of the workers, we’ve formed a relationship over the years and they are obviously devastated.

“Argos has been a part of the town for many, many years.

“Needless to say I will look to see if we can take any of these people on because they have real retail experience, which is what we look for.

“It’s sad that such a prominent retailer is leaving the town.”

Shopper Lucy Savage, a mum of two from Wilmslow, said: “It’s very handy having an Argos here, it’s convenient to be able to go online and come and pick things up.

“I’ve lived here a long time and it’s always been here.

“It will be a shame to see it go.

“I suppose seeing the shops around it, you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see Argos on this road in Wilmslow, but image shouldn’t matter.

“The online world is making things harder for shops.”

According to one worker there is still a question mark over the terms of redundancy.

One said: “It is not known whether payments will be based on hours worked which are about 15-30 hours a week per person, or their contracted hours, about 15 hours in the majority of cases.

“It is suspected the company will opt for a package based on contracted hours, leaving many employees with a redundancy offer valued up to 75pc of what it would be if it were based on the average hours that they have worked instead.”

A spokesman from Argos said they could not comment on potential redundancy packages because they involve confidential conversations with individual employees.