Four more North East Wilko stores will close their doors this week as the national retailer winds down operations across the UK.

It comes as the homeware and hardware brand failed to secure a “rescue deal” last week after it filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators from PwC earlier this month.

All of Wilko’s 400 shops will close by early October, according to administrators from PwC.

Read more: Wilko: What will happen with the 22 North East stores?

Last week, administrators confirmed rival discount chain The Range has snapped up Wilko’s brand, website and intellectual property.

In light of Wilko stores in Bishop Auckland, Ashington and North Shields already closing, Redcar, Newton Aycliffe, Byker and Gateshead will all close this week.

There are four Wilko stores in the North East that will close their doors this week:

  • Wilko - Redcar, 81 High Street (This store will close Tuesday, September 19)
  • Wilko - Newton Aycliffe, Aycliffe Shopping Centre (This store will close Thursday, September 21)
  • Wilko - Byker (this store will close on Tuesday, September 19)
  • Wilko - Gateshead (this store will close on Thursday, September 21)

Wilko recently suspended its home delivery service online, telling customers it is unable to deliver any orders and instead instructing shoppers to use its click-and-collect service or look for items in its stores.

Meanwhile, a number of Wilko stores in the North East have been snapped up by competitor Poundland after a deal to save Wilko by HMV collapsed earlier this week. 

The business deal will see the leases of nine Wilko North East stores taken over by the thrifty retailer, administrators PwP has said. 

Nationally, the Pepco Group will rebrand 71 former Wilko branches as Poundland and hire new staff, prioritising those who previously worked staffed the shops. 

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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.

“The dedication shown by all team members during this period has been hugely humbling and we are grateful for the patience and understanding they have shown.

"As with those who have already been given notice of redundancy, 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 to new employment for those impacted.

“We continue to work with potential buyers for different parts of the business and are confident of completing transactions in the coming days.”