THE Sainsbury’s Local store at the Royal Oxford Hotel was forced to close today because of a leak.

Staff at the convenience store, which opened in November, discovered water leaking from the ceiling at about 8.30am and shut the shop.

Oxford Mail:

Drain specialists Dyno-Rod were called in and parked their vans in front of the entrance throughout the day as they worked to locate the leak.

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Store manager Paul Haste said: “We heard a drip, drip, drip from the ceiling and before long there was a metre-wide pool of water on the floor.”

Mr Haste said it was possible the leak came from the Royal Oxford Hotel.

Oxford Mail:

He added that the leak created 'a large puddle' which has now been cleared away.

He said he hoped staff would be able to reopen the store, which closes at 11pm, tonight.

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The 2,627 sq ft convenience store opened on the ground floor of the hotel.

Oxford Mail:

It features an in-store bakery, fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, a self-serve coffee machine and a wide range of other products.

No-one from the Royal Oxford Hotel was available for comment.