Talks are continuing between administrators and potential buyers to safeguard eight Homebase stores in the county at the risk of imminent closure.

The DIY giant went into adminstration last week - but not before a deal was struck with The Range’s parent company CDS to buy 70 of its stores nationwide.

However, none of those included its eight existing Kent outlets in Thanet, Chatham, Sittingbourne, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Aylesford, Herne Bay and Folkestone.

All must now nervously wait as administrators Teneo continue “active discussions” about a possible last-minute acquisition.

A spokesperson for Teneo confirmed to KentOnline this week there had been no significant developments since its troubles hit the headlines last Wednesday.

Homebase had recently completed on the sale of 11 UK stores to Sainsbury’s and has exchanged on a further three.

The remaining 49 UK stores, which employ some 2,000 staff, will continue to trade as normal for the time being at least.

Teneo insist all employee wages and benefits will be paid for their period of employment. Customer orders will still be fulfilled as far as possible and arrangements will be put in place to allow gift vouchers to be used.

Customers at its Kent stores are being advised that refunds are no longer available and sales of its fitted kitchens have been suspended.

The chain’s owner, Hilco, has been seeking a new buyer after reporting an £84.2 million loss last year.

Sainsbury’s was the retailer’s original owner - launching the brand in 1981 - before selling it in 2000 to venture capitalists for £969m.

It is certainly no stranger to problems in the recent past. In 2016, it was sold to Australian giant Wesfarmers in a deal worth £340m. But almost as soon as many saw their branding changed to the Aussie firm’s Bunnings, it saw a dramatic drop off in customers.

By 2018, it was sold to Hilco Capital - specialists in turning around troubled businesses for just £1 and returned to its original Homebase name.