Poundworld has waved the white flag with the announcement all its remaining stores are to close.

Earlier this month it confirmed the Canterbury branch was to close and then this week the Chatham outlet.

But now, after administrators failed to find a buyer, all its remaining 190 shops will close with the loss, nationwide, of some 2,339 jobs.

In total, it will have closed all 335 stores with a total loss of jobs of 5,100 since it revealed earlier this year two sets of takeover talks had failed.

And that spells the end for stores in Strood, Dartford and its Bargain Buys shop in Gravesend.

However, administrators Deloitte says talks continue to find a potential buyer while the last shops continue to operate.

All stores are expected to close by August 10 unless an agreement is reached.

Like many high street retailers, Poundworld has suffered from high product cost inflation, decreasing footfall, weaker consumer confidence and an increasingly competitive discount retail market.

Clare Boardman, joint administrator, said: “The retail trading environment in the UK remains extremely challenging and Poundworld has been seeking to address this through a restructure of its business. Unfortunately, this has not been possible."