IT’S AN uncertain future for dozens of Gwent workers as three major High Street chains announce closure plans.

Major carpet retailer Carpetright has reported a 70 per cent slide in full-year profits and warned it will close more stores in an effort to weather the consumer downturn.

The floor coverings specialist, which has four Gwent stores in Newport, Cwmbran, Blackwood and Ebbw Vale, said profits reduced to £6.6 million in the year to April 30 after householders were put off making major purchases and also found it harder to obtain mortgages in order to move home. The group finished the period with 559 stores in the UK and Ireland, after closing 27, and said that, with leases on 94 stores due to expire in the next five years, it expected to further reduce the size of its estate.

As yet, a list of stores to close has not been released.

It is being reported that TJ Hughes, which has a store in Newport, is set to appoint an administrator in the next few days unless a buyer can be found.

The Liverpool-based discount department store chain sells household items, toiletries and clothes, says its 57 UK stores are all under threat.

Thorntons could close up to 180 stores over the next three years because of low consumer spending.

The company, which was set up in 1911, said the outlets that will be closed are among the 364 stores directly owned and run by the company.

It said it hoped to replace them with franchised stores “in the majority of locations” and currently has 227 shops run by franchisees.

It currently has four Gwent stores, in Abergavenny, Newport, Ebbw Vale and Cwmbran, but the company has not revealed which UK stores are to close.