CREWE'S Poundland store is one of 44 the budget retailer is closing temporarily because of the impact of the third national lockdown.

The Market Street outlet will shut at close of business tomorrow (Saturday) with the company not revealing yet when it plans to reopen it and the other stores it has "hibernated", which include ones in Chester and Newastle-under-Lyme.

Poundland says it has been hit by an 80 per cent fall in customers visiting some stores and plans to place staff on furlough.

Another 800 Poundland stores around the country are still open and are able to remain so as Poundland is classed as an essential retailer under Covid-19 rules as it sells food products and medicines.

A Poundland spokesperson said: "We hope this lockdown is short and we can re-open our hibernating stores as quickly as possible and we remain grateful for the vital support schemes available to us that help protect jobs."