A NOODLE bar in Southend High Street has shut down making staff redundant just weeks before Christmas.

Up to ten staff are said to have lost their job after Wok & Go closed its doors this week.

An insider, who asked not to be named, said: “There was no warning at all. There’s between eight and ten staff working there at any one time. They were just told out of the blue and right before Christmas. They are shocked.”

The restaurant and takeaway opened around the corner from the popular Noo Noodles less that two years ago.

Earlier this month the national chain, which specialises in Asian cuisine, launched a bid to crowd fund £500,000 to support the launch of a flagship store in London.

Founded in Chester almost a decade ago, the chain expanded to have 20 outlets across the UK, including Southend.

The closure comes as another blow to the High Street which already has a number of empty stores, including the large BHS site.

Ann Holland, councillor responsible for culture, tourism and the economy, said: “This is very disappointing news. It was a different kind of offering for the High Street. No one likes to see any shop close.

“This is the worst time of year for this sort of thing and I do feel for the staff, particularly those with families.”

Mrs Holland added: “I hope all the development going on, particularly in Victoria Avenue, will help businesses. “

“We are working with Bid to help with marketing the town. There is no sign of anyone taking over BHS but now that Bid has been re-elected we’re hoping we can get some marketing done to move that forward.”

Coffee shop Mango also closed its doors after a short spell in the High Street. There was some good news this week however after it was announced a Caribbean restaurant could take over the former Post Office building in the High Street. It was reported Turtle Bay plans to spend £1million in transforming the empty building. The Post Office closed its doors in March and reopened in WH Smith, in an effort by the company to slash costs. The building has remained vacant since.

No one from Wok& Go was available to provide a comment to the Echo.