CUSTOMERS shopping at the Wilko store in Taunton are being faced with several empty and partially stocked shelves.

The outlet on East Street has posters in its windows announcing the company has gone into administration and advertising an 'everything must go' sale.

Large numbers of shoppers have been visiting the store to snap up discounts of up to 30 per cent.

Administrators PwC were called in earlier this month and have sought offers from firms interested in taking on the stricken retailer.

Representatives from the GMB union met with administrators yesterday (Tuesday, August 29).

Wilko says it has suspended staff redundancies while PwC considers rescue offers for the company in an attempt to save jobs and stores.

Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary, said: “All redundancies at Wilko have been suspended while the administrator considers further bids.

“Whilst this is a positive development, Wilko is not out of the woods by any means and this is a time of incredible stress and worry for the 12,500 workers who face losing their jobs.”

It comes after reports of fresh last-minute bids to potentially buy the retailer.

A bid worth £90million has been tabled by restructuring specialist M2 Capital, which could potentially keep the entire Wilko chain trading, according to The Guardian.

It came after Canadian businessman Doug Putman, who bought music retailer HMV in 2019, also lodged a bid intended to preserve the majority of Wilko stores.

Rivals Poundland, B&M, The Range and Home Bargains have also reportedly expressed their interest in buying parts of the Wilko business.