Leek's branch of Thorntons won't be affected by the chocolate retailer's decision to close all 61 of its stores around the country.

The company announced the closure of all of its stores yesterday, in announcement that put over 600 jobs in jeopardy - the latest casualty of almost a year of intermittent lockdown periods that have hit the high street hard.

However, the Thorntons branch in Leek won't be affected by the closures, due to the fact that it is a franchise store.

There are around 100 Thorntons franchise stores around the country, including one in Leek, that are run independently despite bearing the Thorntons name.

This means that the Leek store will remain open for now, as well as other local Thorntons franchise stores in towns such as Sandbach and Nantwich.

Thorntons retail director Adam Goddard said: "The obstacles we have faced and will continue to face on the High Street are too severe.

"Despite our best efforts we have taken the difficult decision to permanently close our retail store estate."

The business's retail department has been in decline over recent years, shrinking from 252 stores in 2015 to just 61 by the time the final closures were announced.

The brand will now be focusing its efforts on selling online and in supermarkets.