MORE than 200 Carpetright stores are set to close – including in Poole and Christchurch – as part of a deal which saw the struggling firm bought by rival, Tapi.

Last week, it emerged Carpetright was on the verge of administration, with up to 1,800 jobs at risk.

It has since been confirmed flooring firm Tapi has agreed to purchase 54 of the brand’s stores and two warehouses, as well as the brand itself and its intellectual property.

However, the deal means a total of 213 stores are still set to close, according to business consultancy, PwC, with 1,018 people losing their jobs.

Stores set to close include Bath, Bristol, Cribbs, Christchurch, Devizes, Dorchester, Frome, Glastonbury, Poole, Salisbury and Taunton.

More than 300 jobs have been saved by the deal, which will see stores in Yeovil, Weston super Mare, Chippenham, Trowbridge, and at Longwell Green in Bristol stay open.

READ MORE: Dorset jobs at risk as Carpetright faces administration

Zelf Hussain, joint administrator, said: “Carpetright has fallen victim to challenges facing many retailers, especially those selling big ticket items.

“A mixture of factors, including a big reduction in consumer spending due to cost of living pressures, lower home sales and a debilitating cyber attack made it impossible for the business to continue in its current form.”

He added: “It is deeply saddening that for the remainder of the workforce there will be redundancies.

“We are committed to helping those affected and will make sure redundancy claims are processed as quickly as possible.

“In collaboration with Tapi, we will assist in efforts to help individuals find new jobs elsewhere.”

Founded in 1988, Carpetright was based in Purfleet, Essex, and boasted 273 stores across the UK.