South Shields Debenhams store safe as planned closure list announced

The company went into administration earlier this month, with its lenders taking control of the department store chain, which includes the store in Waterloo Square in South Shields town centre.

The North East faces losing only one store, its Stockton branch, under the closure plans.

The 22 stores earmarked for closure are: Altrincham, Ashford, Birmingham Fort, Canterbury, Chatham, Eastbourne, Folkestone, Great Yarmouth, Guildford, Kirkcaldy, Orpington, Slough, Southport, Southsea, Staines, Stockton, Walton, Wandsworth, Welwyn Garden City, Wimbledon, Witney, Wolverhampton.