The discount retailer will temporarily shut 44 shops this weekend, including their branch in the centre, due to the third national lockdown.

The Willenhall-based brand will also close their Solihull High Street store from next week. Although Poundland is classed as an 'essential business', the retailer said it was putting a number of stores 'into hibernation' to protect their long-term viability. Austin Cooke, Poundland’s retail director said:

“We learned valuable lessons during the lockdown in March about how buying patterns change as people stick to government advice to stay at home. 

“Putting a small number of stores into hibernation helps protect them for the long term and focus our attention on the majority of stores that remain open to serve their neighbourhoods. 

“We hope this lockdown is short and we can re-open our hibernating stores as quickly as possible and we remain grateful for the vital support schemes available to us that help protect jobs.”

The rest of Poundland's 800 stores will remain open for business as usual.