POUNDLAND owner Pepco has agreed to buy up to 71 Wilko stores following the collapse of the high street chain,

PwC, administrators for Wilko, said Pepco has sealed a deal which will see the stores reopened under the Poundland brand.

However, the Winsford branch on Dingle Walk is not among those set to rebrand.

Edward Williams, joint administrator, said: “Alongside the previously announced agreement with B&M, we’re confident this sale will create a platform for future employment opportunities for people including current Wilko team members at up to 122 locations.

“We will continue to engage with other retailers around any interest in other Wilko sites and are confident of completing a sale of the brand and intellectual property within the coming days.”

READ MORE: Council offers support to Winsford Wilko staff ahead of closure

Workers at the Wilko stores bought by Pepco will not be transferred directly as part of the move.

However, Poundland has said it will "prioritise" existing Wilko workers for roles when shops reopen under the new brand.

The new lease agreements are set to be completed in “early autumn”, with Poundland hopening to open the stores by the end of 2023.

Poundland managing director Barry Williams said: “In the coming weeks we will work quickly with landlords so we can open these stores as Poundland’s with the new ranges that have been pivotal to our recent development.

“Once that process is complete, we will ensure a significant number of the Wilko colleagues will join our Poundland team.

“We recognise the last few weeks have been difficult for them and we will move quickly to secure new consents from landlords so we can offer them the certainty they deserve.”

The Winsford branch is among 24 Wilkos which closed for good yesterday (September 12).

Elsewhere in Cheshire, the Wilko in Ellesmere Port has been included in the list of stores set to be rebranded as a Poundland.