Dave Gill - Usdaw National Officer says: “This is terrible news for the staff in the 30 stores affected, on top of the 20 stores that are closing this Saturday. Our hope is that other retailers, including Sir Phillip Green’s Arcadia group, will offer employment to these experienced, dedicated and loyal staff who suddenly find themselves unemployed.

“At the same time we are aware that the administrators are continuing to seek a buyer, who will hopefully be able to secure the future of the staff in the remaining stores.

“We remain concerned that there is still no news from Sir Phillip since he promised to ‘sort’ the pension scheme and we wait to hear details of what he proposes. In the meantime we are providing the support, advice and representation our members require at this difficult time.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 440,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

BHS Stores to close on 30 July: Ayr; Barnstaple; Bolton; Camberley, Surrey; Carmarthen; Chesterfield; Crewe; Derby; Edinburgh (Cameron Toll); Falkirk; Gravesend; Hamilton; Kilmarnock; Kirkcaldy; Leith; Livingston; Mansfield; MK Stadium, Milton Keynes; Newtownabbey (Belfast); Poole; Portsmouth; Redditch; Rotherham; Salisbury; Scunthorpe; Sheffield Moor; Taunton; Torquay; Weston Super Mare; Worthing.

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion