Sale includes mannequins

massive closing down sale at a beleaguered department store has even included mannequins for £25.

Striking posters stating “everything must go” and “store closing” had been pinned against walls, boxes and shelves at the Ashford branch of Debenhams.

The three-storey shop in County Square will shut on Sunday, January 19, with branches in Folkestone and Canterbury closing on the same day. Chatham’s high street store, where wedding dresses were being sold for just £20, will close a few days earlier on Wednesday, January 15.

On the top floor of Ashford’s store, empty and disorganised shelves displaying only a handful of reduced items stood in an area formerly packed with household goods.

The lower floors containing adult clothing still appeared to be well stocked – despite many items being heavily reduced. Even the mannequins had been marked up for sale – going for £25.

It was a similar situation in

Folkestone, which is also set to close on the same day.

The shelves at the town centre flagship store were almost empty, with one shopper describing the shop as “threadbare”.

Many items had been heavily reduced, with some being discounted by as much as 80%. And it appeared bosses wanted no items left behind as the used mannequins were up for sale in Folkestone, too.

One shopper said: “I went in on New Year’s Eve and it’s basically a free-for-all. People are picking up some great bargains. “They’ve closed off the side entrance now, and even the mannequins are for sale. “They did say though that they are not accepting refunds or returns after New Year’s.” The department store chain first announced plans to axe 22 branches nationally in April, as part of its debt restructuring plans.

After Sunday, January 19, the only Debenhams stores left in the county will be at Westwood Cross shopping centre in Broadstairs and in Gravesend.