These are the 22 Debenhams stores due to close

Debenhams have named 22 stores which are likely to close next year (Photo: Getty Images)

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The high street department store Debenhams has named 22 stores which will close next year.

The new owners of the store have said they plan to shut up to 50 stores, placing thousands of jobs at risk.

Which stores are due to close?

The full list of stores which are expected to close in 2020 are:

AltrinchamAshfordBirmingham FortCanterburyChathamEastbourneFolkestoneGreat YarmouthGuildfordKirkcaldyOrpingtonSloughSouthportSouthseaStainesStocktonWaltonWandsworthWelwyn Garden CityWimbledonWitneyWolverhampton

The company said that the stores will shut if creditors backed a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) which could see thousands of jobs lost.

The 22 stores due to close next year employ 1,200 people, but Debenhams said they hoped to redeploy some staff.

Why is this happening?

Debenhams fell into administration in early April after years of struggle.

The closures are part of a plan which will see around 50 shops shut during a three year strategy, according to Sky News, leaving 110 shops trading under the Debenhams brand.

As part of this, the company has launched a CVA, which is a controversial insolvency mechanism. This could still be blocked by creditors in a vote.