Troubled bargain chain Poundworld has confirmed one of its Kent stores is to close with the loss of 10 jobs.

The discount retailer has been teetering on the brink in recent months following the collapse of takeover talks.

Now it has confirmed its store in Canterbury will be one of 80 branches it is closing.

This is in addition to the 25 stores it announced it would be shutting early this month.

So far, its other Kent outlets in Chatham, Strood, Dartford and its Bargain Buys shop in Gravesend will continue to operate.

The closure of the 80 stores will be phased from Friday, July 20 to Sunday July 22, reducing its portfolio of stores to 230.

Nationwide, 242 staff will be put out of work.

Clare Boardman, joint administrator with Deloitte, said: “Whilst we remain hopeful that a sale for part, or parts, of the business can still happen, it has not been possible to sell the business as a whole. We would like to thank all the employees for their continued support and commitment during this difficult time. We are keeping staff appraised of developments as they happen.”

Clare Boardman and Daniel Butters, restructuring partners at Deloitte, were appointed as joint administrators to the company on June 11.