Staff and customers alike are dealing with devastation as Glasgow institution Watt Brothers entered administration. 

Earlier today we reported that the business, which is more than 100 years old, has entered administration. 

On Sauchiehall Street on Friday crowds gathered as news filtered through about the situation currently unfolding at the 'classic department store'. 

Those who were in the store in the morning were shocked to hear an announcement made throughout the iconic building at just before 10am telling those inside to leave the premises. 

Just an hour later, staff from Watt Brothers left through the back entrance of the store onto Hope Street, some in tears and being consoled by their colleagues. 

The staff, who told the Evening Times that they had been banned from speaking to the press by bosses, before, just after 1pm, other workers were herded into the Hope Street entrance of the closed store. 

READ MORE: Watt Brothers goes into administration leaving Glasgow Sauchiehall Street staff 'in tears'

The Evening Times understands that some members of staff had been asked to stay behind for stocktaking purposes, while others had been sent home in tears. 

Other workers, based at the Willow Tea Rooms in the upper floor of the Sauchiehall Street building, also remained and say they were staying for the remainder of their shifts. They say they are currently unaware as to how the eatery will be affected. 

With many loyal customers, members of the public quizzed each other as they crowded around the window, perplexed at the situation. 

Many had come into the city centre to shop at Watt Brothers, as they had done for decades. 

Maureen Brown has come in to visit the store and tearoom on her birthday. She said a petition should be started to try and rejuvenate the business. 

The 74-year-old said: "I’m angry, they renovated it and they’ve made an excellent job. It’s nice and bright, the staff are brilliant. There’s plenty of places, there’s a lift for not making the stairs.

"I feel sorry for the staff, they’re efficient and pleasant and recognise us straight. I think it’ll affect people from the high street, I don’t buy a lot there. But they had lots of lovely clothes.

"It would be sad to see it got like all the big stores. You used to have all the shops, it would take you all day to do Sauchiehall Street, now you can do it in five minutes. I’m really angry.”

READ MORE: Iconic Watt Brothers store in Glasgow could be sold off

The city's business community have also shared their disappointment at the news. 

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce's chief executive, Stuart Patrick, said: “This is very sad news.

"Our thoughts are with the Watt Brothers management and staff at the Glasgow flagship store and at the company’s other locations.

"Also the loss of such a long-established and well-loved business is an obvious blow to Sauchiehall Street in particular as the street fights back from bad times."

But the thought of Sauchiehall Street without Watt Brothers is a sad reality for some who know nothing else. 

One lady, who is 70 years old and has been shopping at the store for more than half a century, told the Evening Times it was the last of the "classic department stores to leave Sauchiehall Street".

READ MORE: Watt Brothers staff in dark about plans to sell Glasgow's oldest department store

She added: "It is the last of the real shops you could come to and get a variety of reasonable quality goods, all in the one place. I’m 70 years old and remember when all the other stores here. It's the last of the classic departments stores to leave Sauchiehall Street.

"I've been shopping here for 60 years. It’s a shame. It has been here a long time and it's such a nice building.

"I know one of the ladies and she’d been there for a long time. The tearoom as well, it’s the workers you feel it for. It was instant. How would you feel, in work and sent out again that day?"