THE majority of Wilko stores are set to close within the next week after a purchase of the retailer fell through, a union has this evening (Wednesday) said.

In a meeting with administrators, the GMB union said they were informed there is no longer any prospect that the majority of the business will be saved.

It means redundancies for staff in store and at call centres will begin during the coming week.

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Some stores may be bought, either individually or as part of larger packages of the business, but significant job losses are now expected.

A deadline of Wednesday last week had been set to put forward offers for the company after its collapse into insolvency the week before.

Wilko employs around 12.500 people across 400 shops. 

Its Hereford branch is based in Maylord Orchards, a site it has occupied since 2013.

However, if it closes, it will be another nail in the coffin for Maylord's.

Other shops - including Sports Direct - have either closed or relocated in recent years, while Herefordshire Council says it is now now reviewing the new location of the city's library after previously eying up Maylord's. 

 

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