HOMEBASE has confirmed that its Bridgemead store will be closing at the end of next month.

The exact number of staff losing their jobs is not known, but the company has said it will try to relocate them to other shops in the town where possible.

As well as the Bridgemead site, Homebase also has stores in North Swindon and Greenbridge which are not thought to be at risk. Parent company the Home Retail Group also owns Argos.

In a statement yesterday, a spokesman said: “Following a consultation with colleagues, Homebase can confirm that its store in Bridgemead in Swindon will close on Saturday February 28, 2015.

“Discussions are being held with colleagues to find alternative employment in neighbouring Homebase and Argos stores.

“We remain committed to serving the local community, with customers able to visit our two other Swindon Homebase stores; Swindon Drakes Way on Greenbridge Retail Park (1.3miles away) and Swindon Orbital on Orbital Shopping Park (2.1miles away). Customers can also purchase items for home delivery through homebase.co.uk.”

Yesterday, advertising trucks were driving around the town advertising a closing down sale.

The news comes following a troubled period for Homebase, which earlier this week announced Christmas sales had not met forecast.

On Thursday, Argos also revealed it had seen a weaker than expected festive period as Black Friday created a discount mentality among shoppers.

John Walden, chief executive of Home Retail Group, said that if customers didn’t see a deal they liked then they “held off”.

While sales on the day itself were strong, they tailed off during December. He said: “I am pleased with our overall performance during our important peak trading period, having managed through a volatile trading environment with good control of both gross margin and costs. This year’s adoption of ‘Black Friday’ promotional events generally by the UK market significantly impacted the shape of Argos’ sales over its peak trading period.

“The draw of discounts affected trade both before and after that busy weekend as consumers satisfied their Christmas shopping lists with bargains.’’ In October, it was announced that a quarter of the 323 stores around the country would be closing by 2019 to ‘revitalise the business.’ At the time, a spokesman for the company said it was to make sure the company was more resilient for the future.