A DIY and furniture retailer is to downsize a branch to “secure the long-term future of the business”.

The shake-up at family-run Godfrey DIY could lead to up to 20 job losses at its Norwich base but fears are growing among workers in Stowmarket and Diss where there are also set to be redundancies.

The company has been trading from its Riverside Road site in Norwich since the company first started in April 1983.

Managing director Barry Godfrey, said the company had needed to react to trading challenges and changing consumer trends and, as a result, in the new year Godfrey’s DIY and furniture store in Norwich would close. In its place a hugely scaled-back furniture only retail store will remain.

About 26 people are currently employed by Godfrey DIY in Norwich, and Mr Godfrey confirmed a formal redundancy consultation was now taking place. He said the final number of redundancies was yet to be confirmed but that it was possible that, of the 26 positions in Norwich, only six would remain.

There are also expected to be redundancies at the Diss and Stowmarket stores, which will continue to sell both DIY supplies and furniture but will be run with fewer staff. Godfrey DIY currently employs 14 in Diss and 11 in Stowmarket, and Mr Godfrey said up to half of these staff could affected.