High Street chain Wilko has filed a notice to appoint an administrator which could lead to stores closing across Buckinghamshire

The retailer has stores across Buckinghamshire including in High Wycombe in the Chiltern Centre. The move could also put 12,000 jobs across the country at risk.

The notice of intention which was filed at the high court yesterday (August 3) said that they had tried to find a buyer in recent months to secure additional funds.

The notice protects the business from creditors for ten days and does not guarantee that administrators will be appointed.

Mark Jackson, the chief executive of Wilko, said: “While we can confirm we’ve had a significant level of interest, including indicative offers that we believe would meet all our financial criteria to recapitalise the business, at present, we don’t today have an offer that provides the necessary liquidity in the time we have available, given the mounting cash pressures we’re faced with.

“Unfortunately, with this in mind, today we’re having to take the difficult decision to file a [notice of intention to appoint administrators].”

Jackson said that the business would continue to hold discussions with interested parties and would aim to secure its future “as fast as possible”.

“We continue to believe that our robust turnaround plan, with significant re-stabilisation cost savings in progress, will deliver a profitable Wilko and maximise the significant opportunities that we know exist,” he said.

Would you be sad to see the Wilko store close?