Poundland to close eight months after opening

Poundland said the store in Grimsby would close on 2 July

A Grimsby discount store is set to close after just eight months of trading.

Poundland confirmed its shop in Freeman Street would close on 2 July.

A spokesperson for the chain said it had been "unable to secure a long term lease that would enable us to keep trading".

The store was taken over by Poundland last year after its owner Pepco Group took on the leases of dozens of Wilko shops.

Last year, Poundland announced it would take over the former Wilko store in Freeman Street

A sign on the window of the store read: "Sorry. We're closing 2nd July. Visit our website for other nearby stores."

The spokesperson said: "I’m afraid it’s correct that we’re closing this store on 2 July.

"We know that will be disappointing to customers and colleagues alike.

"Whenever we have to close a store, we do all we can to look for other opportunities for colleagues," they added.

It was announced in September that Poundland had agreed to take on the leases of up to 71 Wilko shops after the retailer fell into administration.

At the time, Poundland's owner said the announcement would mark some "positive news for customers and those High Streets that faced the loss of an important retailer".

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