It’s the end for troubled store

EIGHTY-TWO staff will lose their jobs on Sunday when troubled TJ Hughes closes its Oldham store.

Staff at store, in Spindles, were informed of the closure yesterday afternoon.

Many were left shocked that the closure was happening at such short notice following the announcement.

A spokeswoman for Ernst and Young, administrators for the business, confirmed the store would cease trading in Oldham at the end of the working day at 4.30pm. The once-thriving Liverpool-based chain had traded from 57 outlets and employed more than 4,000 staff nationwide. However, tough economic times saw the company go into administration on July 1 but its directors had pledged to save as many jobs and stores as possible.

Twenty-two stores have closed since July. Only last week the Oldham shop, which occupied 50,000sq ft on two floors survived the company’s latest cull last when it closed eight further stores.