Amazon plans to close the first UK site it opened

Amazon has announced plans to close its first UK centre which it opened in 1998.

The online retail company said it had started a consultation to shut its fulfilment centre at Marston Gate, Ridgmont, Brogborough, Bedfordshire, by junction 13 of the M1.

Staff would be moved to other sites or a new £500m facility being built in Northampton that would be open in May, it added.

The company said its "top priority is to support our people during this process".

It currently employs about 590 people at the warehouse and said it was "listening to everyone's views".

The company said the decision was taken to possibly close its Bedfordshire site, called Milton Keynes (Marston Gate), as it was "always evaluating our network to make sure it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees and customers".

Amazon confirmed its sortation centre, also in Magna Park - which employs 1,100 staff - would not be affected.

The US-based business said it was "investing £40bn in the UK" between 2025 and 2027, which included four new fulfilment centres and other new delivery stations.

Amazon said when it opens the new Northampton building - near junction 15 of the M1 - it will employ about 1,400 people, with that number set to rise to 2,000.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.