Wilko in Lewisham is amongst the 400 stores across the UK facing the threat of closures after talks of rescuing the company failed – putting 12,000 jobs at risk.

On Thursday afternoon (August 10), The Guardian spoke with customers in Lewisham Shopping Centre about the latest news now that the popular shop has officially entered administration.

Wilko stores will "continue to trade as normal for the time being" with no immediate redundancies planned however there is a bleaker outlook ahead if a long-term solution isn't found.

But trusted customers at Wilko have shared their greatest affection for the brand, with Maggie Callaghan saying she is “broken hearted” that the stores are closing, whilst shopping at the beloved store in Lewisham.

Maggie, 69, told The Guardian: “I’m really broken-hearted that they’re going to go.

“They always do a good offer on things like washing liquid, bin bags, organic products and stationery – and they’ve got plants, too.

“I mean, I’m retired now, so I’m always looking for offers!”

“They always do a good offer.”

Winsome, 53, who gave only her first name, told The Guardian: “Ever since I got my own flat, I come here very often to buy everything I need, always.

“It’s cheap and the things here are good quality.”

She smiled as she puts two chopping boards into her full basket: “Look here, I got one for my daughter and one for myself.”

Kashara and Daniel Loman, 31 and 30 respectively, live just round the corner from the store in Lewisham.

“You can get everything here,” Daniel told The Guardian.

He continued: “From cleaning products to food containers, everything you’d need for your house, you go to Wilko to get it.”

“The rewards and cashback I get from shopping here is why I come back,” Kashara adds.

“I’ll miss the bargains, and there’s just something comforting about it.

“It reminds me of Woolworths, obviously I was young when it opened, but Wilko just reminds me of that time.”

The six other south east London stores at risk are in Greenwich, Bromley, Bexleyheath, Thamesmead, Orpington, and Penge.

These stores are located in Greenwich Shopping Park, Bromley High Street, Bexleyheath Broadway, Cannon Retail Park in Thamesmead, Walnuts Shopping Centre in Orpington, and The Blenheim Centre in Penge.