Zavvi, the struggling CD and DVD retailer that went into administration on Christmas Eve, is closing three stores in Kent with the loss of 30 jobs.

Branches in Ashford (Designer Outlet), Chatham and Hempstead Valley, Gillingham, along with 19 others nationwide, will shut immediately.

Administrators at Ernst & Young said 178 jobs would be going after failing to find a buyer for the stores. However, the remaining 92 Zavvi stores, including Canterbury and Bluewater, will trade as normal while efforts to sell the business continue.

The firm’s future has been in doubt since the collapse of Woolworths, which was its main supplier.

Zavvi is another victim of the vicious economic downturn that is savaging many well known high street names. Zavvi’s main rival HMV reported a rise in CD sales over the Christmas period.

Heavy discounting at Zavvi stores also boosted sales, and administrators said prices would be cut across all product lines by 20-50 per cent from Friday.

Tom Jack, joint administrator, said: "Despite record consumer demand since Christmas it is no longer possible to support continued trading across all of the Zavvi stores. Unfortunately the current difficulties faced on the UK high street seem to be discouraging retailers from investing in a significant number of new stores.

"However, we intend to continue to trade the remaining Zavvi portfolio with a view to selling all or part of the Zavvi business as a going concern.

"So far we have received 60 expressions of interest which we continue to actively pursue. We are extremely grateful to the staff and management at all stores and the head office for their fantastic support throughout this difficult time."

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