Despite reporting a rise in sales over the Christmas period the Bradford-based retailer said it will be closing seven branches across the country at the beginning of this year. A spokesman said it was ‘with regret’ it would be shutting the stores but stressed they were not profit-making and were among the company’s smaller outlets, at under 15,000 square feet. Around 680 jobs have been put at risk by the announcement. Back in September 2015, 900 jobs were under threat as the chain announced it was closing 11 stores, none of which were located in the south. The national chain, which has stores in Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings, Worthing and Littlehampton, has not confirmed which stores will be affected by the announcement. Morrisions reported a 0.2 per cent rise in like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, in the nine weeks up to January 3. Shares surged by more than 10 per cent after the better-than-expected trading update, in which analysts expected sales to fall by two per cent. Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage 2) Like our Facebook page 3) Follow us on Twitter 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! We are always the first with your local news. Be part of it.