WORKERS at two stores in Wickford and Billericay have learned today that their jobs are to go when their retail fashion chain closes later this year.

The Billericay store on the town's High Street and the neighbouring Wickford one, also on the High Street, are set to close in April following an announcement by the nationwide chain today (Monday, 6 February) that it is closing down all of its stores across the country.

AK Retail Holdings recently bought the brand and intellectual property of troubled M&Co which collapsed towards the end of last year and administrators were appointed in December.

M&Co in Billericay.

Today it was announced the company's 170 stores will be closed, with job losses estimated at around 2,000.

A statement from M&Co says: "Unfortunately we haven't received the news we would have hoped for during our administration period, and would like to share this news with you.

"As we haven't received any funded, deliverable offers that would result in the transfer of the company's stores or staff to a potential buyer, this means that all of our stores will close."

M&Co has not yet given a closing date but said it will keep its outlets open until April.