YORK'S Blockbuster store on Haxby Road is to close as part of a first phase of closures announced by the video rental chain's administrators.

Stores on Friarage Street, Northallerton, Cold Bath Road in Harrogate and Stonefall Avenue, Starbeck are also among the 129 closures, which are in addition to 31 which had already been given notice of closure when the administrators were appointed last week.

York has another Blockbuster store on York Road, Acomb, which has not been included in the announcement, but administrators at Deloitte said they would continue to review the profitability of the chain's stores and announcements of further closures may be made in coming weeks.

About 760 people are facing redundancy, although they couldn't give numbers for specific branches.

The branches will remain open for the time being and close in the coming weeks following closing down promotions.

The administrators said customers would be notified in advance of closure so that they could return their outstanding rental items beforehand.

Lee Manning, joint administrator, said: “Having reviewed the portfolio with management, the store closure plan is an inevitable consequence of having to restructure the company to a profitable core which is capable of being sold.

"We would like to thank the company’s employees for their support and professionalism during this difficult time. We are also grateful to the customers for their continued support.”