WORKERS at Poundworld in Dunfermline are to be made redundant next week after administrators made the decision to shut the store.

Thirteen jobs will go when the High Street chain closes its doors on Tuesday. Uncertainty surrounded the company when it plunged into administration last month and the store escaped the initial round of closures.

But the axe fell on Tuesday with the Dunfermline outlet one of 40 to shut, taking the total number to 165 shops and nearly 1,800 jobs lost across the UK.

Clare Boardman, joint administrator for Deloitte, said: “We would like to thank all the employees for their continued support and commitment during this difficult time. We are keeping staff appraised of developments as they happen.”

Discussions are ongoing with interested parties about the sale of the remaining business.

Shopworkers’ trade union, Usdaw, said the future for the business looks “very bleak”.

Dave Gill, national officer, said: “We welcomed Deloitte’s initial approach for Poundworld to continue to trade while a buyer for all or part of the business is sought.

“We are helping our members find alternative employment with other retailers that recognise Usdaw and we were pleased to secure a promise from Poundland to offer any former Poundworld workers an interview. They are experienced shopworkers who find themselves unemployed through no fault of their own, we urge retailers with vacancies to look at employing ex-Poundworld staff.”

While Poundworld is to close, Poundland in the Kingsgate Centre is to stay open. The store had blamed the cost of their rent for the decision to move out of the town centre and the shop was expected to close next Saturday, July 28.

A poster in the shop window said “We love Dunfermline” but added: “We are really sorry to be leaving, unfortunately our property costs are too high and we cannot afford to keep the shop open.”

But it was all change this week as the company said: “We are delighted to be staying in Dunfermline, which means we can continue to serve shoppers.”