Middlesbrough Wilko becomes one of the final stores to close

Shelves were left bare and tills abandoned as Wilko in Middlesbrough lowered its shutters for the final time today (October 8) after 24 years in business as it became one of the final six stores to close in the North East and North Yorkshire today.

The store closed for a final time at 4pm and a poster left on the shutters thanked staff and customers.

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The poster read:

"This store is now closed.

"The management and staff thank you for your custom.

"Jane Steer, Zelf Hussain and Edward Williams have been appointed as Joint Administrators of Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd, wilko Ltd and wilko.com Ltd to manage their affairs, business and property as their agents and act without personal liability.

"All are licensed in the United Kingdom to act as insolvency practitioners by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

"The Joint Administrators are bound by the Insolvency Code of Ethics which can be found at:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/insolvency-practitioner-code-of-ethics."

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Wilko entered administration in August leaving all 400 of its stores and 12,500 employees at risk. 

Administrators at PwC were forced to sell off Wilko’s assets after rescue deals for the full business fell through. 

Some Wilko stores have been saved with fellow high-street retailers agreeing deals with administrators.