Debenhams to close five more stores putting a further 1,400 jobs at risk

Department store Debenhams has announced that another five of its UK stores will not reopen following the easing of lockdown.

The retailer said that despite "best efforts" it had been unable to agree terms with shopping centre owner Hammerson to reopen the branches, after falling into administration last month.

It has been reported that the closures may result in about 1,400 job losses across the five branches.

Stores that are due to close are in Birmingham's Bullring, Croydon's Centrale shopping centre, Silverburn in Glasgow, High Cross in Leicester, and Reading's Oracle, the retailer confirmed.

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Five further Debenhams stores are set to shut, putting 1,400 jobs at risk (AFP via Getty Images)

A spokesman for Debenhams said: "We can confirm that despite our best efforts, we have been unable to agree terms with Hammerson on our five stores in its shopping centres, and so they will not be reopening.

"We continue to engage in constructive talks with our landlords and have agreed terms on the vast majority of our stores, which we look forward to reopening when government restrictions allow.

"This is no reflection on the commitment of our colleagues in these stores and we are extremely grateful for their support."

The company said it had agreed terms with landlords to continue trading at 120 of its 142 UK stores (AFP via Getty Images)

Last month Debenhams closed seven outlets, resulting in the loss of 422 jobs, though it said it had agreed terms with landlords to continue trading at 120 of its 142 UK stores.

The retailer entered administration on April 9, appointing FRP Advisory to oversee the process, casting a shadow over the future of its 22,000 staff.

At the time the majority of its employees in the UK were being paid under the Government's furlough scheme.

The full list Debenhams stores that will not re-open after lockdown are:

• Truro
• Stratford-Upon-Avon
• Salisbury
• Westfield in west London
• Warrington Leamington Spa
• South Shields
• Birmingham's Bullring
• Croydon's Centrale shopping centre
• Silverburn in Glasgow

• High Cross in Leicester

• Reading's Oracle

Boris Johnson's 'road map' for re-opening Britain on Sunday is expected to shed light on when the likes of high streets and shopping centres may be re-opened.

The Mirror understands a draft 50-page plan has been drawn up to get the country back to normal.

The Government's blueprint aims to to relax the lockdown in staggered steps between now and October.

However, officials fear a second wave of  coronavirus  or a seasonal flu outbreak this autumn could blow their plans off course.