UK sportswear retailer Sports Direct has announced it will close its warehouse in Wigan, Greater Manchester, resulting in the loss of 300 jobs.

According to The Guardian, the sportswear retailer exercised an option to end the ten-year lease on the warehouse. The retailer will close the warehouse on 13 June and employees working at the facility have been informed.

In response to the job cuts, British general trade union GMB mentioned the closure of the Wigan warehouse as a ‘body blow for the North West.’

“This is devastating news for hundreds of workers who now face an uncertain future.”

GMB regional secretary Paul McCarthy said: “This closure is another body blow for the North West – caused by a company with a track record of putting profits before people. The hard-working, dedicated staff at the warehouse have already been put through the grinder once when the site was run by JJB and now this.

“GMB will not rest until every member receives the redundancy pay they are legally entitled. Then we will discuss next steps.”

Wigan labour MP Lisa Nandy told The Guardian: “This is devastating news for hundreds of workers who now face an uncertain future. I have today written to the management of Sports Direct and I am in contact with the GMB trade union.

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“My immediate priority is to ensure all staff, including agency workers, receive the pay and redundancy package they are morally entitled to.”