REPLACING the last plus size clothes store in Fenland with a new phone shop has been branded an insult by customers who face a 20-mile journey to the nearest shop.

Angie Tissiman, 61, discovered that Evans, which specialises in size 14+ clothes for women, was due to close its Horsefair Shopping Centre store on October 1 as she went shopping for holiday clothes.

Mrs Tissiman, who is disabled and relies on her husband to drive her around, said: “The closure of Evans means there will not be any clothes shops for the bigger woman after Yours closed earlier this year. I can’t make much sense out of it.

“It’s not fair to the customers who have used the shop for the 15 years it has been there.”

The Newton resident added: “To shop at the Horsefair is easy and convenient as you can park next to the shops and you don’t have to walk far. My husband, Alan, will have to drive me to Peterborough or King’s Lynn and as I am in constant pain it will be more difficult.

“There are four or five phone shops leading up to Evans already - with two next to each other - and to have another is an insult.”

Sarah Williams, Evans store manager, has seen an increase of sales since she took over a year ago and says the shop is part of the community.

“Our customers don’t just come in to look at clothes, they come to have a chat and the staff have built relationships with them.

“They’ve been quite upset and angry about the decision made by the Arcadia group but we have had to deal with them,” she said.

“I was asked to come in whilst I was on holiday to hear the news - I was completely shocked as it was out of the blue.

“Myself and five colleagues who have lost our jobs are remaining upbeat and seeing it as when one door closes another opens.”

Orange and T-Mobile store Everything, Everywhere will take over the store in October.