Peacocks store closures put dozens out of work in Upton Park and East Ham

Staff at Peacocks stores in Newham lost their jobs yesterday afternoon - despite the company coming out of administration.

Clothing chain Edinburgh Woollen Mill bought the discount fashion retailer’s brand, and 388 of its stores and concessions, protecting around 6,000 jobs nationwide.

But these did not include the 43 people working at premises in High Street North in East Ham and Green Street in Upton Park.

Administrators KMPG said they were closed immediately with little warning and the workers made redundant, but the Green Street store still appeared to be trading on Thursday.

Chris Laverty, from the company’s former administrators, KPMG, said: “While it is unfortunate that redundancies have been necessary, we are pleased that we have been able to preserve the majority of the business and jobs.

“I would take this opportunity to thank the management team and staff for their continued assistance in very difficult circumstances.”

The jobs blow comes as latest unemployment figures showed 11,671 people in Newham were out of work, the first time the figure has increased in three months.