JOHN Lewis has announced eight of its department stores will not reopen again, putting 1300 jobs at risk.

Insiders have warned previously it is "highly unlikely" all 50 of its stores will ever reopen again following the coronavirus lockdown.

The group is yet to reopen large numbers of its shops and has said it was sticking to its "safe, not fast" approach.

This morning, the business said it needs to permanently close eight stores after the coronavirus pandemic accelerated the shift from in-store shopping to online.

No stores in Scotland are affected by these closures. John Lewis said the full-size stores in Birmingham and Watford would be shut, along with four At Home shops in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth, and two travel hub outlets at Heathrow and St Pancras.

More to follow.