BOLTON'S Debenhams is reported to be among 50 stores earmarked for closure, it has been claimed.

It is claimed that staff were told this morning that the Bolton store, in Market Place, will close within the next 12 months.

However, store manager Shelley Oliver, told The Bolton News that no announcement had been made yet, about which stores are due to close.

Bosses said the majority of affected stores would be closed gradually, over a three to five year period.

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Mr Mike Atkinson, who said he was a floor manager at the store, said he had walked out of the store with colleagues after staff were given the devastating news this morning.

He said: "It's a sad day but we weren't completely shocked. We've been struggling for a number of years now, so it's not exactly unexpected.

"We were told at a staff meeting this morning that we are one of ten stores to close within the next 12 months.

"I just walked out of work this morning, I was so angry and upset. I can't be there right now."

Ms Oliver said Mr Atkinson did not work at the Bolton store.

A spokesman for Debenhams said: "Debenhams has not announced the closures of any individual stores today.

"We do not have a list of specific store closures at this point, and we are unlikely to announce closures any time soon.

"This is a long-term proposal, over the next five years, as we begin to focus on our stores in key locations."

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Mr Atkinson said he has worked at the store for 13 years. He said the opening of the Debenhams store in The Rock in Bury was the "nail in the coffin" for the Bolton store.

He said: "After the Debenhams opened in The Rock, we have struggled with footfall. We can't seem to compete. I think when we go, it'll be the end for shopping in Bolton town centre."

Mr Atkinson said more than 150 people work at the store, but management have not offered redployment to other stores in the region.

The store closures will put more than 4,000 jobs at risk nationally.

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The retailer announced a record loss of nearly £500m so far this year, compared to a profit of £59m last year.

Boss Sergio Bucher said: "It has been a tough year for retail in 2018 and our performance reflects that. We are taking decisive steps to strengthen Debenhams in a market that remains volatile and challenging.

"We are taking tough decisions on stores where financial performance is likely to deteriorate over time.

"Debenhams remains a strong and trusted brand with 19 million customers shopping with us over the past year."

The Debenhams boss blamed online shopping for the recent downturn in business.

He added: "It's no surprise that customers have shifted online, they buy less in store, they buy more online.

"That is the issue we are addressing with our announcement today. We want to have fewer but better stores with a better shopping experience, we want to grow our online business and we want the whole of the organisation to be more profitable.

"This is a five-year programme. Most of the stores that we have in this plan are still profitable, they might stop being so as online develops.

"I can promise my 26,000 staff across the UK that we will work very hard to protect as many stores and as many jobs as we can."