YET another shop is set close in York’s premier shopping street, bringing the total number of empty premises to 11.

Signs in the window on Poundworld in Coney Street say it is closing and “everything must go”.

The national budget retailer called in the administrators last month, putting 5,100 jobs at risk across the country.

There had been hopes that the chain might be rescued by its founder Chris Edwards, but it emerged yesterday he was out of the running after negotiations stalled.

He said he had made a “substantial and credible offer” - the best he could put forward - but he believed it hadn’t been given the respect it deserved. “Although it was close to what the administrator wants, we’ve now had written confirmation it’s not high enough.”

Administrators Deloitte said it continued to seek a buyer of all or parts of the business but to date no party had presented a ‘credible and acceptable bid with accompanying confirmation of funding.’

A spokeswoman said: “We have provided guidance to indicate how a successful bid might be structured and have provided detailed information to assist bidders in an effort to help them wherever possible.”

Other empty shops in Coney Street include the former BHS and River Island stores, and last week the Spurriergate Centre cafe and restaurant in adjoining Spurriergate shut down suddenly.

Andrew Sharp, of destination management organisation Make It York, said the closure of Poundworld had been widely anticipated and continued the pattern of national retailers being under stress.

He said: “We continue to work closely with York BID, York Retail Forum and City of York Council in promoting York as a great place for retail. Despite the obvious difficulties on Coney Street, York still has one of the highest retail occupancy rates in the North of England.”