A FAST-FOOD chain has pulled the plug on plans to move into Colchester High Street... after more than two years of inaction.

Byron Burgers first announced plans to open in the former Oasis clothes shop, in High Street, in 2016.

Despite announcing hundreds of jobs faced the axe across its restaurants in January, bosses still said the Colchester outlet was still on the agenda - even though there had been no progress on fitting out the building.

Now the Gazette can reveal the plans have been dropped.

A spokesman for the burger chain said: “Byron’s current focus is on our existing restaurants and we’re not planning for a new opening in Colchester at this time.”

The news comes after successful first years for Five Guys, Wagamama and Turtle Bay, which are all opposite the Byron site.

Colchester Council had recently contacted the firm on the appearance of the vacant shop front, in High Street.

A council spokesman said: “We have recently written to the owners about the appearance of the shop front.

“While this was not to formally serve an enforcement notice, that option remains on the table and would need to be considered depending on the response we receive.

“The council has received no further instructions from Byron Burgers about their plans to open on the High Street.”

Colchester Council has since been forwarded details of the pull-out.

Martin Goss, Colchester councillor responsible for a widespread town centre clean-up, said: “It is definitely disappointing and they have let the building fall into a fairly poor state.

“The worst thing is this is two years where we could have had that building in use - perhaps even with Oasis still there.

"It was a popular shop and was a big loss to Colchester when it went.

“Perhaps someone should get in touch with them and ask them if they want their premises back.

“The hope is; this is a prime location on our High Street and somebody will come along and snap the hand off the owner to get in there.

“You might find it difficult to find somewhere better than there.”

It is the latest blow to the western end of the town centre, after Post Office announced plans to leave its North Hill base and move to WH Smith.