Blockbuster Axes 182 More UK Jobs as 30 Further Stores Close

Blockbuster is to shut 30 more stores across the UK resulting in 182 further job losses after going into administration.

The embattled retailer had already announced earlier this month that 72 stores will be scrapped and 452 jobs will be lost - bringing the total number of job losses to 634.

But after the high-street veteran's administrators could not find an acceptable offer for the business, it has had to take further measures.

"It is unfortunate that we have been unable to secure a buyer to date, and therefore we have had to take the decision to make further store closures," said administrators Simon Thomas and Nick O'Reilly, of Moorfields Corporate Recovery.

They added: "We are continuing to review the profitability of the portfolio and may have to make further closures over the next couple of weeks."

Moorfields said it is listing job vacancies for a number of leading retailers, including Santander, to support employees affected by the store closures.

In addition, the administrators stressed they are making every effort to support customers and to date have issued more than 30,000 refunds for goods and services not received.

The news comes after the company faced a period of poor trading performance across both rental and retail sales since its acquisition for an unspecified amount by investment firm Gordon Brothers Europe in March.

The UK became Blockbuster's largest business outside of the US, where it was born.

It follows the demise of entertainment business HMV Group and digital photography specialist Jessops, both of which have recently succumbed to the difficult trading environment.