ACCRINGTON'S Glyn Webb store could face closure with the loss of about 20 jobs after the company went into administration leaving customers without their Christmas orders.
The shop on Blackburn Road, Accrington, which is one of 22 stores across the country, is being kept open in the hope someone might buy the business as a going concern and avert the threat of future redundancies.
Glyn Webb Wallpapers Ltd, which is one of the largest independent DIY and wallpaper chain stores, went into administration last week with debts of around £10M, leaving thousands of shoppers concerned about their Christmas orders said to amount to £24,000.
Appalled shopper Brenda Hunt, 49, said she was shocked to discover the store was facing closure just weeks after she ordered a brand new bed frame from the Accrington store.
Mrs Hunt, who lives with her five-year-old son in Oswaldtwistle, said: "I've been waiting for four weeks for my metal bed frame to arrive. I've been sleeping on my mattress on the floor and when I called into the store they told me they had gone into administration.
"I couldn't believe it, I thought I had lost my money. If the store is going to close why don't people know and why are lots of others customers still shopping there?"
Mrs Hunt was told to call insolvency specialists Milner Boardman and Partners, who are the appointed administrators, and managed to obtain a credit note for her purchase.
Accrington is one of 10 stores which will stay open around the country after the 12 remaining stores were sold, saving over 270 jobs, mostly across the North West.
Glyn Webb was bought three months ago by businessmen Simon and Bobby Arora, who own Blackpool based B&M Retail.
Ian Grenfell, store manager at Accrington, refused to comment on the news but a spokeperson for Milner Boardman and Partners said he was keen to reassure shoppers who had pre-ordered goods that if they didn't get their order they could claim a credit note if they contact their local store.
Administrator Colin Burke said: "We understand that the business has been faced with extremely difficult trading conditions in the DIY market for two years. Despite the investment by the previous owners, who acquired the business in April 2006, and a recent change of ownership, trading performance has failed to improve."
The devastating news follows a run of bad luck which has plagued the store since it had to be re-built following a major fire in 1995 causing £1M worth of damage.
Another fire hit the store in February 2004, causing £150,000 worth of damage.
