Tenterden's Woolworths store is set to close its doors for good on Saturday, December 27.

Yesterday The Joint Administrators to Woolworths Plc confirmed that the 807 Woolworths stores will all be closed by January 5, unless a buyer for the business can be found.

The Tenterden store, along with stores in Gravesend, Margate and Maidstone, is among the first tranch of 200 set to close to the public on December 27.

The fate of the Ashford and Folkestone stores remains uncertain.

Woolworths currently employs 22,000 permanent members of staff and 5,000 temporary and seasonal staff.

Neville Kahn, Joint Administrator said: “Whilst negotiations for the sale of Woolworths’ retail arm remain ongoing, and we continue to speak to new interested parties, regrettably we have had to begin a store closure programme.

"We are extremely grateful to the staff and management for their support throughout this difficult time."

Deloitte says it has received bids for around 300 stores.

A quarter will close for the final time on December 27, with the remaining 600 to cease trading on or before January 5.

The shopkeepers' union Usdaw said staff at Woolies' branches in Kent would be notified of planned closure dates later this week.

John Gorle, national officer, said: "We're shocked 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."

Woolworths has been a legendary shopping name since 1909 when it opened its first store in Liverpool.

The company, which also owns EUK, a distributor of CDs and DVDs, has been squeezed by the credit crunch and retail downturn. It has debts of £385m owed to investors GMAC and Burdale and the banking crisis has added to Woolworths troubles.