A LAST-MINUTE deal has saved the Widnes TJ Hughes store from closure, protecting 58 jobs.

Administrators of the Liverpool discount retail chain named the Green Oaks Shopping Centre site among 22 stores last week earmarked for closure, after failing to find a buyer before stocks were exhausted.

But Speke-based retail group Benross – which has already bought the TJ’s brand and four stores including the flagship London Road headquarters – announced a deal yesterday to buy the Widnes and Newcastle stores for an undisclosed sum, protecting a total of 134 jobs in the process.

Benross managing director Anil Juneja revealed after his initial acquisition last week that he hoped to add more TJ’s stores in his bid to restore the brand to its former glory.

Yesterday, he said: “Both stores have a solid management structure in place and are well-loved by the local community.

“Widnes is ideally situated to continue TJ Hughes’s reach in the North West, while the Newcastle store has a prominent city centre position.

“Both stores have strong growth potential.”

He added: “As with our previous four acquisitions, we’re committed to safeguarding local jobs and rejuvenating the stores – both inside and out.”

Mr Juneja’s initial deal for the Liverpool site and three others in Eastbourne, Glasgow and Sheffield secured 442 jobs.