So what is happening at Lanark Homebase?

Homebase announced 24 stores were proposed to close in November with the Braidfute Retail Park branch being one of the seven Scottish stores for the chop.

However, despite a closure date being set for March and promises of employment at other stores in the Home Retail Group, which includes Argos and Habitat, no date has been officially set, leaving the staff working there in a state of flux.

Our source, who asked not to be named, said: “Staff were informed the exact closure date would be given to them in the first week of January but this then changed to towards the end of month.

“We are now in February and still no closure date has been given to the Scottish stores.

“However all English stores have their closure dates. Why is there an apparent level of discrimination towards Scottish employees?

“How are families to set themselves up financially when they are soon to end up on Jobseekers allowance due to not having enough notice to gain new employment?”

A Homebase spokeswoman denied in the strongest possible terms any kind of discrimination against its Scottish employees.