Boots is to close 60 of its stores nationwide amid the coronavirus crisis.

The high street retailer has decided to temporarily shut the branches "that are very quiet at this time" - including the unit at Bluewater shopping centre.

Pharmacists will be redeployed to busier nearby Boots shops.

A spokesman for the firm said: "We are committed to being there for the people that need us and we will not leave a community without a pharmacy.

"The closing stores are typically in city centre or shopping centre locations and are usually within a few minutes' walk to the next closest Boots pharmacy.

"All over the country, we are working tirelessly to support the NHS and to provide our customers with the advice, healthcare, medicine and products that they need.

"We would like to thank our colleagues for their work and our customers for their support and generosity."

Some of the stores will close tomorrow, while the rest - including Bluewater - will shut next Wednesday.

Of the 60 earmarked for temporary closure, 25 are in London and the rest are mostly in shopping centres away from the high street.

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