'Sign of the times': Shropshire shoppers lament looming loss of Wilko in latest blow to high streets

Having failed to secure a takeover that would have saved the business, the bargain chain went into administration last month and announced the closure of all 400 of its stores.

Fifty-one of the stores are said to have been snapped up by B&M, while Pepco, which owns Poundland, will take on the leases of 71 more.

But with both companies expected to use the premises to expand their own brands, shoppers are preparing to bid farewell to the familiar sight of the red, white and yellow storefronts.

In Shropshire, this means the closure of five stores: in Telford town centre, Wellington, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Market Drayton.

Shrewsbury's is set to close tomorrow, September 21, while Market Drayton's will close next Monday, September 25.

Shoppers in Market Drayton told the Shropshire Star of their sadness at the latest blow to the British high street.

"Sadly, it feels like a sign of the times," said Fay Wilde, 45. "Online shopping is the future.

"But it's sad, it's a staple, isn't it? It feels like BHS or Debenhams again. I was shocked when I found out it was going.

"Wilko is the place you pop in when you just need something random for the house. Amazon's great but it's not just here when you need it."

Katie Henderson, 32, had popped into town from nearby Woore with her 22-month-old son, Dylan.

She said: "I'm really, really going to miss it. It reminds me of Woolies. It feels very, very sad to lose another one.

"The high street is dying in recent times, and it is sad, but it does bring in new opportunities as well.

"I would love to see this as a charity superstore, or something for the community like an indoor play area with a cafe for the kids.

"There's not much to do around here for children, and with a building this size, what else would fill it?"

Another resident, who didn't want to be named, waved to an empty store across the car park and said: "It's just ridiculous, it's another huge store that's going to be empty."

The building they were gesturing to once housed B&M before it moved to a larger premises just out of the town centre in October 2019.

The large site has now stood empty for more than four years.

Jean Lawson, 80, agreed: "It's a terrible shame, the state of the old B&M. The roof's sagging down and windows have been broken.

"I really hope that's not what going to happen here. These big stores move in, and little businesses can't compete, then they close anyway."

Market Drayton's mayor, Roy Aldcroft, also raised concerns about the soon-to-be second empty property on Arlon Square.

He said: "In the commercial world at the moment it seems like everybody is shrinking down and getting smaller units.

"I can't see someone rushing in straight away to take something like this on board, which is a giant shame.

"It's a disaster for the staff, a big place like this gives a lot of employment and without another retailer coming in and taking over those jobs have gone.

"In the run-up to Christmas too, it's going to reduce footfall and it's going to leave us with a bit of a retail desert in Arlon Square."

Market Drayton resident, Diane Blackie, 70, said: "It's just another shop isn't it? It's just the next one. As time goes on there won't be a town anymore."