Thousands of jobs on the line as Debenhams plans store closures

Retailer Debenhams is to close up to 50 stores, putting around 4,000 jobs at risk, as it posted a record annual loss.

There are 17 Debenhams stores in the West Midlands – two in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Brierley Hill, Telford, Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Leamington Spa, Stratford upon Avon, Nuneaton, Rugby, Redditch, Lichfield, Hereford, Kidderminster and Worcester.

The retailer is yet to confirm which stores will shut.

The news follows the retailer posting a £491.5m loss in the year to September, compared with profits of £59m the year before.

It is the latest of several announcements of struggling retailers.

High profile collapses have included Toys R Us, BHS and Maplins.