Regular shoppers at Borehamwood Safeway were mourning the passing of their favourite superstore during its last day of trading on Saturday.

Early on September 28, shocked staff were told their store was to be closed in just three weeks -- although the on-site Post Office would stay until March.

As news spread, many customers telephoned us to say they were sad and surprised the ten-year-old store was to close with the loss of 130 jobs.

"It's so sad. It was more than just a supermarket," said Patricia Hunt, 55, of Furzehill Road, "it was a meeting place for many older people who enjoyed a cup of tea on the tables outside."

Miss Hunt echoed the sentiments of many when she said Tesco, in Elstree Way, was too big to negotiate comfortably -- especially for older people.

Responding to claims that stock variety was not what it could be, she said: "The fruit and veg section could have been better, but everything else was fine. I liked the bakery."

Staff, she added, were always cheerful and the store had a family-friendly atmosphere.

Widow Janet Selby, 60, of Easton Garden, agreed that Tesco is "too big" and often "too crowded."

Remarking that Kwik Save in Shenley Road had run out of potatoes on Monday, the former Elstree Moat House worker said: "There has got to be another food store in Borehamwood. I'm hoping that something else can go in there pretty quickly."

When asked about services at the in-store Post Office, which recently reduced its hours by more than 20 hours a week, Mrs Selby said she agreed with the decision to close on Sunday.

Staff could not be expected to work in an office handling large amounts of cash without the "protection" of a nearby supermarket.

Part-time store cashier Chris Stokes, 19, of Chandos Road, said he would accept his employers' offer of work at the St Albans store -- but would be looking for another job.

Staff were disgusted to be given the news on the same day as the public, he said, and they were angry that management must have known about the closure earlier.

Another Safeway regular, Maureen Begley, 59, of Stanborough Close said the store was the perfect size to just rush in and buy something.

Commenting on Post Office services, she said the queues have been long for the past two or three months.

Ms Begley, who works at W H Smith's distribution depot in Borehamwood, said she felt sorry for the staff who were always very nice.

She added she could not understand why managers said they were closing due to lack of trade. "I've seen it really busy.

"This is a big loss for Borehamwood," she added.

Working parents Dilip and Aruna Solanki, 43 and 34, of Barton Way, said they liked Safeway because they could do everything at once -- do the shopping, play the lottery and use the Post Office.

Mrs Solanki, who works in IT in the City, said the main advantage of the store was that it was close to her home.

"We're not happy about the change in Post Office hours. Previously we could go there at any time, when all the other Post Offices are shut."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.