THERE is hope that jobs of workers at Wilko in Grays may be saved after it was announced that the owners of the Poundland chain, Pepco, have bought 71 Wilko stores - including the one in Grays. 

Poundland already has a small store just a few yards away from the Wilko premises in Grays Shopping Mall - and it appears probable the two could merge on the much larger Wilko site.

Poundland boss Barry Williams said it recognised the last few weeks had been difficult for Wilko workers. In a statement, the company said that Wilko staff would have priority when applying for new jobs at the Poundland shops.

Wilko fell into administration in August as it struggled with sharp losses and a cash shortage. 

Last week B&M announced it had bought 52 stores, though administrators PwC confirmed a number of stores would be closing. Grays was left in limbo but now its buyer has been named.

The billionaire owner of music retailer HMV, Canadian entrepreneur Doug Putman, had been trying to buy at least 100 Wilko shops but the deal fell through as rising costs complicated the deal.

Following that PwC confirmed the group's remaining shops, warehouse and support centre workers are set to lose their jobs. 

It is not known what is happening to the Wilko at Unit 55, Lakeside. 

Edward Williams, joint administrator at PwC, said: "We will continue to engage with other retailers around any interest in other Wilko sites and are confident of completing a sale of the brand and intellectual property within the coming days."