John Lewis to close 8 stores nationally with 1,300 jobs cut - but Milton Keynes will remain open

    Department store chain John Lewis has said eight of its shops will not reopen from lockdown putting 1,300 jobs at risk.

    The employee-owned business said the closures come after the coronavirus pandemic accelerated the shift from in-store shopping to online.

    The shops to close are: two full-size department stores in Birmingham and Watford; four At Home shops in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth; and two travel hub shops at Heathrow and St Pancras.

    Meanwhile, the Milton Keynes store at The Centre MK will remain open.

    Sharon White, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: "Closing a shop is always incredibly difficult and today's announcement will come as very sad news to customers and partners.

    "However, we believe closures are necessary to help us secure the sustainability of the Partnership - and continue to meet the needs of our customers however and wherever they want to shop.

    "Redundancies are always an absolute last resort and we will do everything we can to keep as many Partners as possible within our business."

    Additional reporting by Sky News.

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