MYSTERY still surrounds the sudden closure last month of a North-East factory outlet shopping centre.

There was no warning of the closure at Jackson's Landing, in Hartlepool.

About 60 staff who turned up for work on Friday, July 30, were told to go home. They are still unsure whether they have jobs.

Notices were placed on doors at the shopping centre, saying the store was closed until further notice.

About 18 months ago, the complex, then known as The Designer Room, went into receivership after falling profits threatened its closure.

Italian businessman Marino Roberto, who owns Prohibition London, stepped in and vowed to return the shopping centre to its former glory. He started by renaming it Jackson's Landing.

When contacted by The Northern Echo yesterday, staff at Prohibition were unable to put us in touch with Mr Roberto, despite repeated calls.

They, too, were unable to shed any light on why the centre closed suddenly without warning.