A CUMBRIAN Wilko store will close at the beginning of next week - as the company is set to have all its stores closed by November.

The 90-year-old retail chain tumbled into administration early last month after it came under pressure from weak consumer spending and debts to suppliers.

The Wilko store in Cockermouth is one of the biggest chains within the town and takes up a large commercial space within the Lowther Went Shopping Centre.

In an update issued by the joint administrators, the Cockermouth store has been confirmed as closing on Monday, September 25.

The store is displaying many 'closing down' signs as well as empty shelves as it prepares for closure.

It's set to be the first of many store closures for the chain in Cumbria, as the Whitehaven store closes on Wednesday, September 27.

The Workington store has already closed with the final day of trading being on Sunday, September 17.

The GMB Union, which represents over 3,000 Wilko employees, believes all 408 stores across the UK will now close by early October after a meeting with administrators PwC.

This will result in more than 12,500 redundancies across the UK.

Nadine Houghton, national officer for the GMB union, said: “Due to the incompetency of Wilko bosses the deal has now run out of time.

“If the owners had been transparent and honest, thousands of loyal Wilko workers may not now be in this awful position.

“This is another devastating blow for them, who have seen their lives and futures gambled on the whims of millionaires and billionaires.

“Wilko bosses should be ashamed that this once great family business now appears to be beyond saving.”