SENIOR councillors have spoken of their disappointment after the sudden closure of two fashion stores brought job losses.

Store Twenty One shops in Place De Creil, Nelson, and Broadway, Accrington, have shut after the collapse of the West Midlands-based chain.

Store Twenty One collapsed into liquidation on Tuesday with the loss of 900 jobs across the country.

The news of the failure was not unexpected as the retailer had been operating under a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) since last year. A court recently issued an order to wind the company up after it failed to secure additional investment.

The stores in Nelson and Accrington were among Store Twenty One’s 122 retail units that ceased trading last Friday.

The Accrington blow follows closely on the heels of the closure of the town’s Papa John’s shop.

Cllr Tony Dobson, Conservative leader on Hyndburn Council, said: “Our thoughts go out to the families that have lost jobs.

“I think Accrington town centre is getting used to this kind of news but we seem to have fallen unlucky here, with this being a national company.

“We hope that the owners of the site will be looking to find a new occupant as quickly as possible."

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Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, leader of Pendle Council, acknowledged that the closure was not unexpected but expressed confidence that Nelson town centre could shrug off the Store Twenty One closure there.

Cllr Iqbal said: “I am disappointed but as a council we are always looking to try to attract new business.”

He said the opening of a Costa Coffee shop that was announced in February will help the town centre bounce back.

Simon Bonney, a partner at the corporate recovery firm Quantuma, which is overseeing the closure process, said: “It is very sad that matters have got to the stage where all the stores were closed by management on Friday following a prolonged period of uncertainty leading up to the liquidation.

“We are now in the process of conducting an orderly wind-down and we would welcome contact from any interested parties who may wish to purchase assets of the company.”

He added: “The traditional retail sector continues to face significant challenges, not least with changes in business rates.

“It is another example of the difficulties arising in the economy.”