THE building occupied by WH Smith in Bromsgrove town centre is up for auction next month - with a guide price of almost half a million pounds.

This does not mean the popular retailer's shop will be closing - just that offers are being invited to buy the building it is located in.

The building, at 54-56 High Street, will be auctioned by Bond Wolfe Auctions on Wednesday, December 9.

It would be an ideal purchase 'for those seeking an investment', the auctioneers said.

The building is currently let to WH Smith Retail Holdings Ltd on a five-year lease from June 2017 at a current rent of £37,500 per annum.

It has more than 4,045 sq ft of space over three floors and the building has a guide price of £420,000+.

Anyone interested in the auctions or with properties for sale in future auctions should contact enquiries@bondwolfeauctions.com or call 0121 312 1212.

The auction will be livestreamed via the Bond Wolfe website from 9am, with remote bidding by proxy, telephone and internet only.

Each property is subject to a reserve price which may be different from the guide price.

A WH Smith spokesperson confirmed that the sale had no bearing on the future of the store.

"I can confirm that we have no current plans to close our Bromsgrove store," she said.