WET weather did little to deter a group of residents in Kingsteignton from protesting the planned closure of their town’s branch of Boots.

‘Save our pharmacy’ was the rallying cry of half a dozen or more people who, with home-made placards in hand, gathered afront the Boots store on Gestridge Road to protest its closure.

The branch is set to close in February of next year.

Among the protestors was Tracey Scott.

Tracey, who was a driving force in getting the protest organised, said: ‘If they close this one then I will have to stop my mediciation because I can’t get to the other one.

‘They are so good in there [Gestridge Road], they text me every time my medication is ready.

‘It is vital they keep this branch open.

‘My niece went to the Boots at the Retail Park the other day, and the queue was outside the door so she went back home.’

Boots announced in June it would close some 300 of its branches throughout the UK over the coming 12 months: the move is a part of the pharmacy chain’s plans to consolidate the business.

Stores in close proximity to one another will be shut: Gestridge Road and Kingsteignton Retail Park, for example, are no more than two kilometres apart, hence the closure.

It is understood team members effected by the closure will be offered alternate roles within the business - no redundancies are planned.

‘I just think it is a shame’ said another protestor, who wished to remain anonymous.

‘This branch has been here for so long - it is a part of the community.

‘Post offices, banks, everything is closing!’ they went on to say.

Several drivers travelling along Gestridge Road, in solidarity with the protestors, sounded the horn of their vehicle.