A MAJOR department store is beginning a closing down sale.

The Vergo store, in Station Road, Clacton, is one of 18 branches across the East of England which are earmarked for closure.

The department store, in Long Wyre Street, Colchester, is one of the outlets which will continue trading while a buyer is sought.

Administrators, who have taken over Vergo, said talks with possible buyers for the stores would continue until they stop trading.

One store in Dovercourt has already closed, and administrators said the jewellery store, in Eld Lane, Colchester, is also to close.

Four jobs have been lost at the Vergo home store, in Peartree Road, Stanway.

Workers were laid off without notice or a payout when the administrators took over.

Sarah Bell, of administrators MCR, said: “Discussions are ongoing with a number of different parties wishing to acquire part or all of the business.

“This process is being run in parallel with a discount sale in order to generate sufficient cash to fund the business in the short term.

“Unless a purchaser can be found for the whole business, further store closures during the coming weeks cannot be ruled out.”

MCR said the East of England closures, along with one store in Liverpool, had led to a total of 341 redundancies.

It is believed about 16 people are employed at the Clacton store, one of the biggest shops in the centre of the town.

The final closing date for the stores involved has not yet been confirmed.

MCR said it is in regular dialogue with all stakeholders, including employees, trade unions and local government authorities.

Vergo went into administration earlier this month, after it bought the department stores from the East of England Co-operative Society last July.