Customers had noted the shelves were gradually being cleared of stock last week, but on Monday the store's doors and windows were papered over with signs stating the business had closed.

The notices also thanked customers for all their support.
The store opened for business last September with a flurry of activity after the site had lain empty for eight months following the closure of Woolworths.

This latest closure is another blow for the town's workforce, with some of the Pound-Mart employees facing redundancy for the second time.

When the store, which sold high street brands at low prices, opened last September it employed 14 members of staff.

They included some of the 26 former Woolworths employees made redundant when all 807 UK branches of Woolworths closed at the beginning of 2009.

Commenting on the recent closure Mrs Isobel Ross, chairman of Forfar Community Council said: "I did notice Pound-Mart had closed. Here we are faced with another major blow to Castle Street.

"I am disappointed to see it hasn't continued and feel desperately sorry for the staff."

Despite trying to contact the Chichester-based company on Monday, at the time of going to press on Tuesday (yesterday) no comment was available.