Debenhams will permanently close a further five of its department stores, all located in shopping centres owned by the property firm Hammerson, putting 1,000 jobs at risk. The latest closures to be announced, which include its stores in the Oracle shopping centre in Reading and in Birmingham's Bullring, means that 16 of its UK outlets will remain shuttered when lockdown restrictions are eased.

The retailer has been in negotiations with its landlords, and has reached agreement on 120 of its 142 sites, while the future of an additional six hangs in the balance.

The majority of Debenhams' staff have been furloughed, although its website has continued to trade.

Debenhams has previously used an insolvency process employed by other struggling retailers, known as a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), to enable it to cut rents and close unprofitable stores, including 19 shops which shut for good in January.

Since the coronavirus lockdown it has written to landlords asking for a five-month rent holiday and written to its suppliers to inform them they would be getting their money a month later than expected as it seeks to conserve cash.

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