Wilko to close ‘majority of stores’ with loss of thousands of jobs

Experts say Wilko is likely to be broken up with rival bargain retailers taking parcels of its stores Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

The majority of Wilko stores are expected to shut with the loss of thousands of jobs after a white knight failed to step forward to rescue the collapsed retailer.

The family-owned household and garden products retailer, which has about 400 stores and employs almost 12,500 people, will leave big gaps on high streets after the failure of talks with interested parties forced it to call in administrators this month.