POUNDLAND'S Crewe store is set to close at the end of the month.

The budget retailer will put up the shutters in Market Street on Saturday, October 23. It is blaming the closure on its failure to negotiate a new lease with its landlords.

Last month it said it was trying to keep on the Crewe store.

The impact of the pandemic has been felt hard even in the budget retail sector and the store was one of 44 temporarily "hibernated" earlier in the year before reopening in April.

At the time Poundland said it had been hit by an 80 per cent fall in customers at some stores and placed staff on furlough.

Now Poundland says it will try to "look after colleagues directly affected" by the closure.

The nearest Poundland store is in the Jasper Square Retail Park in Tunstall 12 miles away.

A spokesperson said: "We're as disappointed as our colleagues and customers that we haven't been able to reach agreement with our landlord on renewing the lease at our store in Market Street in Crewe and it will close on October 23.

"It goes without saying, when we close a store, we always work hard to look after colleagues directly affected."

The closure is another blow to Crewe town centre which has seen larger chains deserting over the years and relocate at the Grand Junction Retail Park.