SHELVES at Toys R Us have been taking a pounding as a closing down sale gets underway at the Swindon megastore following the chain going into administration.

Long queues at the weekend for discounted toys continued into Monday afternoon with shoppers eager to grab bargains of up to 30 per cent.

Signs advertising the fire sale have been plastered over the store, with branded goods such as Star Wars figures among the discounts. Kris and Sue Allen were among the shoppers grabbing bargains at the outlet, located off the White Hart roundabout on the Oxford Road.

Kris, 35, from Penhill, said: “It’s quite sad really as Toys R Us has been around for years.

“Christmas isn’t going to be the same without it. I understand times change with the online market but nothing’s better than going into a shop and getting good customer service and finding something that you didn’t go in for.”

The couple, who have five children aged between five and 15, spent £21.51 on forthcoming birthdays, including on toys based on the PJ Masks television series and Play-Doh.

They weren’t put off by the chain not giving cash for refunds as they felt the savings justified the risk.

The sales rush was still going strong into Monday afternoon with queues at the checkouts and shoppers carting round trolleys full of goods. Kris, who works in retail, said: “By the look of it inside the store hasn’t got long. It’s a shame as it’s another big name off the high street.”

One member of staff said: “The queues were going out of the door at the weekend. It was crazy.”

The employee said that he understood the store would close within eight weeks.

Administrators for Toys R Us announced last week that they were winding down the stores, with the national fire sale beginning on Friday. However it has not given specifics on plans for the Swindon outlet, saying only that national closures would begin within days.

The chill wind on the high street has also hit Prezzo, which has a restaurant in Regent Circus.

The Italian restaurant chain has proposed a rescue package to creditors who are owed almost £220million. However, both a member of staff at the Swindon venue and a representative for Tulchan Communications, representing the company, said they were not aware of any plans to close the restaurant, which appears to be profitable.

Prezzo has put forward a Company Voluntary Arrangement to ensure its survival, which means deals with landlords to reduce rent. Dozens of Swindon jobs are already at risk between Toys R Us and Maplin, another Swindon employer which has gone into administration.

ENDS