POUNDED

A wave of Poundworld shops will close this weekend, with 242 job losses. Administrator Deloitte singled out 25 branches which will shut for good on Sunday.

Deloitte insisted it was still in talks with possible saviours for the rest of the 335-strong chain, which employed more than 5,000 people when it went bust last month.

Sources say the 25 shops were among those that had received no interest from potential buyers.

The fate of the rest of Poundworld should be known soon.

Steve Smith, founder of rival Poundland, has held early-stage talks about a rescue.