ALL Woolworths stores will shut within the next three weeks, leading to the loss of more than 470 jobs in Worcestershire, it has been announced.

Administrators Deloitte said about 200 of the company’s 807 stores would close by Saturday, December 27, followed by a second batch of 200 on Tuesday, December 30, 200 on Friday, January 2, and the final closures on Monday, January 5. It is not yet known on which of these dates the Worcester, Malvern, Stourport and Evesham stores will close, although Deloitte said stores would be displaying signs in their windows in the coming days counting down how many days were left.

Woolworths employs 474 people across 12 stores in Worcestershire, including 91 at the Worcester store in High Street, 30 at the store in Bridge Street, Evesham, 20 at the Malvern store in Church Street, and 20 at the store in High Street, Stourport-on-Severn.

A total of 22,000 permanent staff and 5,000 temporary workers around the country will lose their jobs following the closures over the next three weeks. This is on top of the 450 jobs already cut at Woolworths’ head office and support operations in London and Castleton, Rochdale, plus 700 jobs at the firm’s distribution arm Entertainment UK Ltd.

Deloitte said it had been unable to find a buyer for the firm, but that it had received interest from other retailers for 300 Woolworths stores. It has not disclosed which stores these are.

Shopworkers’ union Usdaw said it was “appalled” at the news, adding it had been told that every store would be given just 10 days’ notice before they closed and staff would be asked to work up to three days afterwards to clear up.

The union said staff would be notified of the locations of the phased store closures in four stages over the next few days.

National officer John Gorle said: “We are shocked that staff will only be given 10 days’ notice of store closures and deeply disappointed by the news that no buyer has yet been found for Woolworths. Redundancy is devastating at any time of the year, but particularly so at Christmas.

“We have been informed by the administrators that the leases of up to 300 stores will be sold. This is terrible news, as it means our members will be made redundant and not transferred to the new owners of these leases.”

Last week, the chain launched a huge closing-down sale which saw prices slashed on hundreds of items. Bargain hunters at local stores snapped up toys, electrical goods, homeware and chocolates.

Deloitte said Woolworths and Entertainment UK had about 500 creditors. Entertainment UK will continue to trade beyond Monday, January 5, and to supply other retailers.