Jobs fear as Focus is set to close 120 stores

DIY chain Focus is to close 120 stores, putting thousands of jobs at risk, according to reports today.

The private equity-owned firm, which ran 175 stores and employed nearly 4,000 staff, fell into administration earlier this month.

More than 50 of the stores have been sold off, but the remaining Focus outlets will be closed and the stock will be sold off, sources close to the administrators said. It is believed that three buyers have taken on dozens of stores each, but there are no details of their locations.

Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q — and also parent of the Screw Fix brand — has acquired 31 stores for £23 million and plans to refit the vacant properties and open them as B&Q stores later this year.

The owner of Wickes, Travis Perkins, has bought 13 stores in a deal worth £8.4m and plans to convert them to the Wickes format by the end of 2011, taking on all of the 345 staff affected.

Ernst & Young, which was appointed as the administrator to the stricken DIY chain, was expected to announce the closures today.

Sites in the West Midlands include Stafford Street in Wolverhampton, Lichfield Road in Wednesfield and Dudley Road, Kingswinford.

There are also stores in Aldridge, Brownhills, on the Walsall Retail Park and in Longbridge, Birmingham.