CITY shoppers said Wilko closing would be a great loss to Worcester after the store's owners are set to call in administrators.

The high street retailer has filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators today (Thursday) which would put about 12,000 jobs at risk nationally.

Residents said the news was "crazy" and the Worcester branch in the High Street would be missed if the store goes.

"I think it is crazy because we lost a lot of hardware stores and you can get a lot in there," said Elizabeth Price who was shopping in the city centre.

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"I imagine the general feedback will be the same - it is crazy.

"It is always busy and would mean you would have to go to places like B&Q, but that’s out of town.

"It would be a great loss for Worcester."

Louise Crook, who works on the High Street, said: “I would miss it.

"It is so close - I would miss having it so nearby and so useful.”

However, it is not just Worcester shoppers who would miss the store.

Droitwich resident Penny Dean said she was disappointed that so many stores appear to be closing in the town centre.

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"We live in Droitwich and I have just been in the Worcester branch and thought it was amazing with so much on the shelves.

"It would be a big loss to Droitwich as there is barely anything now."

Wilko chief executive officer Mark Jackson 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.

“We’ll continue to progress discussions with interested parties with the aim of completing a transaction which preserves the business and will encourage those interested parties we’re in discussions with to move 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.”