ABOUT 25 jobs at discount stores in Blackburn and Burnley have been saved after the group was sold.

This week, signs were put up at UGO, which has stores at Montague Street, Blackburn, and Queen’s Lancashire Way, Burnley, saying stock checks were taking place throughout the stores.

And now, administrators from The P&A Partnership have sold the stores to the Poundstretcher chain.

It is estimated that the Blackburn store employs 18 people, with seven in Burnley.

A total of 245 jobs have been saved across the country, with all staff transferring to the new firm immediately.

The 20 UGO stores in the North and the East Midlands opened last January in former Netto premises.