A CITY centre street is losing a second national high street name as Karen Millen leaves York.

The women's wear brand is closing its Davygate store on May 9 after failing to renegotiate the lease on the building.

It follows in the footsteps of Laura Ashley, just two doors from the Karen Millen shop, which is also leaving Davygate next month after permission was given to turn part of its rented shop into a Caribbean restaurant.

However while Laura Ashley will retain a presence in York though its out-of-town store at Monks Cross, the closure of Karen Millen marks the brand's exit from the city, with the nearest store now in Leeds.

Karen Millen would not confirm what will happen to staff at the York store as result of the closure, nor how many are affected.

Laura Ashley said it is closing its York city centre store "with regret" and that it is in consultation with all employees affected by the closure with the aim to re-deploy where possible.

Frank Wood, chairman of York Retail Forum, said: "It's very disappointing that Karen Millen is leaving York, they will be missed from the city centre.

"We are always happy to have high profile names make the retail offering in York one of the most unique in the country.

"We are sorry to see Karen Millen go, and hope that some time in the future they will return to the city.

"We would love to see them replaced in Davygate by another high profile name as we need to the big brands as well as the small independents as part of York's retail offering to bring people to the city, and make it an even more attractive destination than it already is."

The exit of both brands will leave two empty units in Davygate, as the restaurant plans for Laura Ashley only cover the rear of the building.

The current shop has entrances in Davygate and Little Stonegate, and is made up of two different units with different owners.

In July last year, a “change of use” planning application for Little Stonegate made by landlords Rushbond Plc was turned down after Laura Ashley’s lawyers warned that its shop would have to shut if it lost that unit.

But Rushbond launched an appeal, and in September last year planning inspector Elaine Worthington ruled in their favour and gave the planning permission.

A licensing application, made by Caribbean restaurant chain Turtle Bay, was then approved last December.