We visited Basildon's huge Wilko store today as it closes its doors for the final time - with photos showing just how eerily bare the shelves were.

Wilko, in Westgate Shopping Park, closes down today alongside 24 other locations across the UK.

It comes as PwC, who was appointed to oversee insolvency last month, failed to secure a deal with interested parties to buy the remaining parts of the business, which has left Basildon customers devastated.

Echo: Plenty of plant pots remained on the shelvesPlenty of plant pots remained on the shelves (Image: Ethan Banks / Newsquest)

Jackie Osbourne, from Wickford, has been using the store for years and she told our reporter Ethan Banks: “I’m absolutely devastated this much-loved Wilko store is closing.

“I’ve been coming here for years to buy their bargain products, especially their big candles.

“With this closure, it just adds to the rapid loss of the High Street for an online future and that breaks my heart because that method of shopping is not accessible for me.

“I’m deeply upset by this.”

Echo: Many shelves were almost completely bare this morningMany shelves were almost completely bare this morning (Image: Ethan Banks / Newsquest)

Similarly, Alan Cope, from Basildon, added: “It’s such a shame because it was convenient to just walk in there and get bits and bobs.

“Not only is it a shame for us customers, but also for the workers who are losing their jobs.

“My heart goes out to them.”

A total of 23 other stores are shutting down permanently today (September 14), resulting in 1,016 redundancies this week.

However, the raft of closures and job loses is set to be increased even more as the GMB Union announced this week all 400 stores are set to close by early October, including the flagship Victoria Shopping Centre unit, in Southend.

With this, the rate of redundancies will affect all 12,500 staff members.

Grays shoppers received some good news this week, as Pepco revealed it will be transforming the town's Wilko store into a Poundland as the firm sealed a deal to buy up to 71 stores. This is set to open at the end of 2023.

Rosa Jones, who lives in Langdon Hills, told Ethan: “I’m going to miss seeing the bright red and white logo in our High Streets, as well as the beaming smiles from the staff members.

“That’s what I’m most sad about, but I thank them all for their service over the years.”