RETAIL bosses says there is no chance of them returning to their former base in Colchester High Street after a burger chain pulled out of converting it.

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

The Oasis store eventually shut down in January 2017, and marketing material was plastered all over the prominent unit announcing Byron were coming soon.

A year later, there had been no progress on the building but bosses insisted they still planned to open the new restaurant despite having to axe hundreds of jobs at other outlets across the country.

And in October, they finally admitted defeat and scrapped plans for the Colchester eaterie.

Colchester Council cabinet member Martin Goss (Lib Dem) had tried to help Oasis find an alternative location in the town centre when they pulled out, and contacted the popular clothes store when Byron pulled out to see if they were still interested in the unit they were forced out of.

But bosses said rents were too high for them to consider a standalone shop.

In a letter to Mr Goss, a spokesman for Oasis said: "We are sorry to read Byron Burger have vacated the unit Oasis occupied a few years ago.

"Sadly, our positions is the same as when you spoke with out global retail director back in 2017, who advised due to rental levels a standalone store in Colchester as not a viable option for us.

"Due to the direct property costs being so high, reopening a solus store isn't possible for the brand for the foreseeable future."

Mr Goss said it had been greed which saw Oasis forced out and replaced by a restaraunt which Byron was unable to deliver.

He said: "With places like HMV, Debenhams and other stores struggling it does not look like High Streets around the country are in a particularly strong place and with Brexit around the corner it looks like people will be being careful financially."

Mr Goss said the former Oasis site has been tidied up and he would like to see a shop be placed at the unit.

"The council's planning enforcement team got the site tidied up and all of the Byron branding has been removed.

"I would expect it to be filled at some point."