THE Malmesbury branch of Wine Rack is a list of a further 381 stores to close after owners First Quench went into administration.

Four staff are to lose their jobs locally while the national figure is more than 1,900.

First Quench, which also trades as Threshers, The Local, Bottoms Up and Victoria Wine, had more than 1,200 stores around the country and employed 6,300 people.

Earlier this month administrators announced 373 loss-making stores would be closed.

Joint administrator Richard Fleming from KMPG said negotiations to sell the business were at an advanced stage, but it had become clear that only 500 stores were of interest to potential buyers.

"Unfortunately there has not been sufficient interest in these 381 stores as part of the going concern sale, so we have no option but to close them. "However, we have had an enormous amount of interest in these sites from over 700 small local businesses and private individuals," he added.

The stores will all be closed by December 16 and stock liquidation sales have started.

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