Workington Wilko store is set to close its doors for the final time on Sunday, September 17.

Wilko’s administrator, PwC has confirmed that the shop is to close its doors and that Tuesday, September 19 will be the final day for staff.

The closure of distribution centre (DC) operations is expected to take place on Friday September 15, with the majority of the remaining 886 DC employees being made redundant on that date.

Further redundancies of the remaining 210 support centre employees will take place during September and early October as operations wind down.

The administrators say they are continuing to “liaise closely with the government, agencies, unions and large employers” to help create avenues to further employment opportunities for staff, with the aim of helping team members quickly return to employment.

Zelf Hussain, joint administrator, said: “Despite the significant and intensive efforts of both ourselves and Putman Investments - the remaining party interested in buying a significant part of the business as a going concern - a transaction could not be progressed due to the inability to reduce central infrastructure costs quickly enough to make a deal commercially viable.

“We will guide and support those team members impacted over the coming weeks through the redundancy claims process.

“We also continue to collaborate closely with relevant agencies and engage with any potential employers to help facilitate a quick return into new employment for those impacted.”

Wilkos has been under pressure from rival budget household chains like B&M, The Range, and Home Bargains who recently opened a big shop in Kingstown, Carlisle.

A date for the closure of Wilko stores in Carlisle, Cockermouth and Whitehaven has not been announced but closures dates are expected to be announced in the coming days.

The closures of the Wilko store in Carlisle, which will cost 35 people their job, has prompted concerns about the future of the historic market hall in the city centre.