A CAR dealership has reached the end of the road with the loss of almost 30 staff.

The Renault dealership, which was owned by the Priory Motor Group, has shut its showroom and service department in Stonebridge Road in Northfleet.

The closure is part of a nationwide decision by the Co-operative Group, which owns the Priory Motor Group, to no longer be involved in the motor trade.

A Co-op spokesman said: "A decision was taken early in 2005 by the Co-operative Group to exit the motor trade. The disappearance of Renault Northfleet is part of that."

Twenty-nine members of staff, a mix of full and part time workers, have been made redundant.

The Co-op said redundancy payments had been made and staff had been offered help and advice with training courses or to help them find employment.

It added staff had also been made fully aware of the Priory Group’s plans since June 2005.

The land has now been sold to developers for an undisclosed sum. The building, which was officially closed on January 21, remains but has been boarded up and the majority of Renault signs removed.

A Co-op spokesman said: "The original hope was that it would be another car garage but that wasn’t possible. It has been sold to developers."

The Northfleet dealership was one of two the Priory Motor Group operated in Kent - the other was a Citroen garage in Ashford which closed in December.