Jobs may be lost after a supermarket chain announced a branch closure.

Tesco Express in Wealdstone High Street, Harrow, is among 43 of the firm's stores to close following an announcement in January that profits had fallen.

A total of 16 staff members are now in consultation with the firm, and will be found alternative roles within the company where possible.

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: “In January I announced that our performance as a business has fallen significantly short of where we would want it to be and that to protect the future of the business in the UK we would close 43 unprofitable stores.

“It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that our Wealdstone Express is one of the 43 we plan to close. The decision to close the store has been exceptionally difficult to take. I recognise it will affect many hard working colleagues, our customers and the local community.

“Our priority is to explain what this announcement means for our colleagues and wherever possible, offer them alternative roles with Tesco. I would like to thank all our customers who have shopped in our store. We will continue to do our best to serve them through our Harrow Station Road Superstore, Harrow Kenton Lane Metro and Harrow Greenhill Way Express, and our dotcom service.”

The store will join 42 others that have been earmarked for closure, with more than 2,000 Tesco staff members affected.

Pauline Foulkes, Usdaw Union national officer, said: “This is devastating news for more than 2,000 dedicated staff in the 43 Tesco stores across the UK, who have worked hard to make their shop viable during a difficult time for the company.

“We will now enter into full and meaningful consultation meetings on this proposal, where we will look closely at the company’s business case for the closures. Our priority is to maximise employment within Tesco, seek redeployment opportunities for members, where possible, and to keep job losses to a minimum.

“We will support, advise and represent our members throughout this difficult period of uncertainty.”