A Kent branch of ailing CD and DVD retailer Zavvi has closed this week with the loss of 13 jobs.

The outlet in the Whitefriars shopping centre, Canterbury, is one of 15 other stores in the nationwide chain that have closed immediately, hitting a total of 295 jobs.

Altogether, 55 Zavvi stores across the UK have closed, costing 826 jobs, since it went into administration on Christmas Eve. It prevously had a network of 114 stores.

Other Kent stores that have closed include Chatham, Hempstead Valley, and Ashford Designer Outlet, with a combined loss of 30 jobs.

Administrators at Ernst & Young said that 48 further stores, including Bluewater, will continue to trade. There had been interest from a number of parties and there was no formal closure plan for the entire store network.

Zavvi is the latest high street name to be hit by the downturn. But it was also damaged by the collapse of Woolworths’ company Entertainment UK (EUK), its main supplier.

Tom Jack, joint administrator, said: "We continue to trade 48 stores in the UK, however in doing so we have to manage the cost base of the company with a view to maximising returns to creditors. This includes a constant re-evaluation of our property portfolio in line with trading performance.

"Consequently, with reducing stock levels we have had to manage our cost base accordingly and close a further 15 stores.

"At this time we are continuing to look to further progress interest from a number of interested parties and consequently do not have a formal closure plan for the entire store network."