THE Debenhams store in Ellesmere Port will close its doors for the final time today (May 15).

The permanent closure of the Coliseum Shopping Park branch comes after the historic Eastgate Street store in Chester (pictured below) traded for the last time on Wednesday.

All remaining Debenhams stores are due to shut today.

Back in January, it was announced that online fashion retailer Boohoo had bought the department store brand and website for £55 million.

But while the deal would see the name survive, it meant the company’s remaining 118 stores – including the Chester and Ellesmere Port branches – would permanently shut.

Both stores reopened on April 12 for closing down sales as non-essential retailers were given the green light to welcome back customers in England as part of the Government's gradual easing of lockdown restrictions.

A Debenhams spokesman said earlier this month: “Our sincere thanks go out to all of our colleagues and customers who have joined us on this journey.

“We hope to see you all one last time in stores before we say a final goodbye to the UK high street.”

Chester and District Standard:

The Chester store began trading from its current site on Eastgate Street as Brown's back in 1791.

It was bought by Debenhams in 1976 with Browns of Chester the only store in the group to retain its own trading name alongside the Debenhams branding.

The deal to save the Debenhams brand will see its products sold by Boohoo from early next year.