The WHSmith name will disappear from Southampton's high street after a £76 million sale.

The shop, on Above Bar Street, will be rebranded as TGJones after WHSmith agreed to sell its UK high street chain to Hobbycraft owner Modella Capital.

Approximately 480 stores and 5,000 staff working for the high street businesses nationwide are set to move under Modella Capital’s ownership as part of the deal, which was announced on Friday morning.

WHSmith’s travel division is to remain unchanged, with stores at Southampton Central Railway Station and Southampton Airport to continue operating under the WHSmith brand.

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Southampton’s high street store has seen an array of famous faces over the years for book signings, including Saints FC legend Matt Le Tissier and singer songwriter David Essex.

The multi-million-pound sale of the high street stores comes as WHSmith chief executive, Carl Cowling said: “Our UK high street business has become a much smaller part of the WHSmith Group, as our travel business has grown.”

He added: “As we continue to deliver on our strategic ambition to become the leading global travel retailer, this is a pivotal moment for WHSmith as we become a business exclusively focused on travel.”