MORE than 100 jobs are in danger as the borough's biggest retailer announced major losses at one of its superstores.

Hindley's Co-op superstore, in Cross Street, has been losing out to fierce competition from out-of-town supermarket giants Asda and Sainsbury's, and has now been reported as running at a loss.

Bosses confirmed that the store is being put on the market and, once applications have been received, the company will decide whether to sell or not.

The 112 staff at the store were told the news at a special meeting.

Co-op spokesman Mark Craig said: "It would be our preferred option for another retailer to take over the premises. That way, there is more chance that the staff could be kept on."

If this is not possible, the company will do its best to redeploy staff in other Co-op stores.

The shock announcement comes less than two weeks after a smaller Co-op store in Golborne, owned by CWS, was forced to close for similar reasons.