Poundland has announced it will be closing 44 stores in a fresh blow to the high street.

The branches of the budget chain will temporarily shut down from Sunday, January 10, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hit the industry.

There has been an 80% drop in footfall since the virus first struck last March, and now dozens of stores are going to be put into "hibernation".

Austin Cooke, Poundland’s retail director said: "We learned valuable lessons during the lockdown in March about how buying patterns change as people stick to government advice to stay at home.

"Putting a small number of stores into hibernation helps protect them for the long term and focus our attention on the majority of stores that remain open to serve their neighbourhoods.

The firm has reported an 80% drop in footfall since the start of the pandemic

"We hope this lockdown is short and we can re-open our hibernating stores as quickly as possible and we remain grateful for the vital support schemes available to us that help protect jobs."

Poundland is temporarily closing 44 of its stores

Around 800 Poundland stores will remain open, the company said. The business has not said when it hopes to reopen the closed sites.

Poundland will place staff in "hibernating" stores on furlough "where appropriate".

Poundland has not said when the 44 'hibernating' stores will reopen

During the first Covid-19 lockdown in March, the firm closed around 120 shops before starting to reopen them from the end of May.

The budget chain has been allowed to stay open throughout the pandemic as it is classed as an essential shop because it sells food, medicine and other important products.

But people are again being reminded they should only leave the house for essential shopping after the country was plunged into a third national lockdown earlier this week.

The budget chain has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic

Poundland said that in the majority of locations where a store is closing, there will be another branch open nearby.

These are the 44 stores that will temporarily close their doors from Sunday, January 10.

  1. Newark, St Marks Place
  2. Londonderry Ferryquay Street NI
  3. Grantham, Isaac Newton Centre,
  4. Kingston upon Thames Eden Walk
  5. Mansfield Four Seasons SC
  6. Harlow Harvey SC
  7. Lowestoft Britten SC
  8. Colchester Culver Street
  9. Ipswich Sailmakers SC
  10. Ayr High Street
  11. Norwich Castle Mall
  12. Workington Campbell-Savours Way
  13. Newmarket, The Guineas SC
  14. Carlisle Scotch Street
  15. Luton 31 The Mall SC
  16. Dumfries, Loreburne SC
  17. Belfast Castlecourt SC NI
  18. Glasgow Union Street
  19. Newry Buttercrane SC NI
  20. Falkirk Howgate SC
  21. Enniskillen Erneside SC NI
  22. Edinburgh Princes Street
  23. Newry Quays SC NI
  24. Perth St Johns SC
  25. Inverness High Street
  26. Cardiff 121 Queens Street
  27. Kirkcaldy Mercat SC
  28. Bridgwater Angel Place SC
  29. Cramlington Manor Walks SC
  30. Burnley 82 Charter Walk SC
  31. Middlesbrough Captain Cook Square SC
  32. Preston Fishergate Centre
  33. Durham Riverwalk SC
  34. Rochdale Exchange SC
  35. Beverley Flemingate SC
  36. Chester Frodsham Street
  37. Farnham The Borough
  38. Bootle Strand SC
  39. Fareham Market Quay
  40. Solihull High Street
  41. Fareham Whiteley SC
  42. Newcastle under Lyme Castle Walk
  43. Crewe Market St
  44. Merry Hill SC