Discount retailer The Works store closure - one branch to shut permanently on Friday

Its location in Hitchin is the next to take the hit, with the retailer confirming it will be closed from this Friday, August 25.

The Works branches have been closed recently for a number of reasons, with one shutting as it was relocated.

​Last month, it shut its Coulby Newham shop with staff relocated to nearby branches.

The Baytree Garden Centre store in Weston also closed earlier this year in April.

The Works has also opened new branches and relocated some stores.

New stores have recently opened in Inverness, West Durrington and Beckton. Relocated stores have opened in Wolverhampton, Llanelli, Grimsby and Crewe.

There are more than 500 The Works locations across the country and Britons are encouraged to find another nearby store if their local has shut.

Shoppers can also pick up stock by ordering online.

The bargain retailer is best known for selling items such as books, stationery and various art supplies.

Property director at The Works Jeremy Smith said: “The Works has a nationwide network of 527 stores on high streets, in retail parks and shopping centres across the UK and Ireland. At our core, we’re a bricks and mortar retailer and we’re always on the lookout for new locations to reach even more customers.

“Since May we have opened three brand new stores and relocated four stores, all of which are using our new brand and trading ahead of expectations. We’ve closed four stores as part of our ongoing management of the portfolio and have got a further eight stores under offer that we’re excited to open over the next few months. So keep an eye out for a Works store opening near you.”

It is not the only chain to close recently as the high street appears to be emptying.

Argos, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Wilko and Iceland close branches.

M&S is to close a total of 67 large branches as it makes way for more than 100 new food stores.

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A number of Boots branches are to close with its Holywell, Flintshire branch shutting down this week.

Iceland is scheduled to close branches in Llanelli, Wales, Market Shopping Centre in Crewe and Grange Road, Birkenhead in the next few weeks.

Argos closed its Swansea's Morfa Shopping Park location yesterday.

This comes as around 45 Argos stores have closed in the last year, with 25 new shops opening within Sainsbury's stores.