SOME of Swindon’s biggest chains have closed their doors as the coronavirus pandemic grows.

Stores including Costa Coffee, Primark and Nando’s have announced the temporary closure of all of their stores.

Costa has shut more than 2,400 outlets, including 12 outlets across Swindon.

The chain will continue to operate the Great Western Hospital and offer free hot drinks for all NHS workers for the next two weeks.

In a statement, its CEO Jill McDonald said: “We will do our best to keep Costa stores open in hospitals where we will continue to provide free takeaway coffee for the next two weeks to the NHS workers who are at the forefront of this crisis.

“Wherever possible, we will keep our Costa Express machines available.”

Costa said members of staff at closed stores will be paid their full average weekly pay over the next eight weeks.

Fashion chain Primark, has closed all 189 of its UK stores on Sunday evening, including the one on Regent Street.

Around 37,000 employees will be affected by the closures, but they will be provided with full pay for 14 days, the company has confirmed.

“Our main priority is the health and well-being of our employees,” a spokesman for Primark said.

Nando’s said in a statement it will shut its restaurants until further notice.

“The safety and security of our customers and team is always our top priority and with this in mind we have taken the decision to temporarily close across the UK and Ireland,” the statement said.

The chicken chain, which has branches at the Orbital Shopping Park and Regent Circus, will not operate takeaway and delivery services.

Others chains closing include McDonald’s and Waterstones.

Every UK branch of locksmith Timpson has closed as a precaution intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. It has six Swindon outlets.

HMV, which a one store on Regent Street, announced it is temporarily closing its 120 stores.

Debenhams is closing its stores across the UK including the town centre unit.

The Brunel Centre released a list of the stores closed, including Pandora, Lush, Claire’s, Ann Summers and The Entertainer.

Regent Circus bosses announced the centre is now completely shut as all the tenants have taken the decision to close their units.