Rioting Forces Salford Store Closure

11 August 2011, 18:51 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Looters have forced the closure of a department store in Salford with the loss of 23 jobs.

The administrators of TJ Hughes announced that the badly damaged discount store in Salford Shopping Centre would remain shut and its employees made redundant tomorrow.

A large amount of stock was plundered by yobs on Tuesday night who then went on to vandalise the outlet.

John Gorle, national officer of shopworkers' union Usdaw, said: "This is shocking and very sad news. Despite the Salford store being in administration, it was not in the group of stores set to close either this week or next and there remained every chance it could have been saved.

The actions of a criminal minority have put paid to that and put 23 people out of work.

Unfortunately, the loyal and hard-working staff at TJ's in Salford won't be the only people to lose their jobs and livelihoods as a result of the riots.''

Eight more TJ Hughes stores throughout the country are due to close next week after the company entered administration on June 30.