MAJOR retailers across Britain will shut next Monday whilst the Queen’s state funeral takes place in London.

Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Aldi, Waitrose, Primark, and Homebase – all of which have branches in Colchester – will be closed on the official Bank Holiday, which was announced by King Charles on Saturday.

Tesco branches will also be closing – although Tesco Express stores will be open from 5pm onwards after the funeral has finished.

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Some retailers had initially announced they would only shut for four hours, but most will now be closed all day for the first state funeral since that of Winston Churchill in 1965.

Morrisons, who have yet to clarify whether they will alter their opening hours next Monday, has said it has quietened its checkout beeps and turned off PA systems in what the retailer has said is a mark of respect to the monarch.

Asda and Iceland are also yet to give an official statement on next Monday.