Oswestry shoppers have said they are unsurprised to see Wilko facing collapse - but others say they are "gutted" at its plunge into administration. 

The shop in New Street, as well as 400 others, is at risk of closure after the national chain failed to secure a buyer.

Some members of the public are of the belief the chain was getting too expensive and haven’t shopped there for years - while others said they were disappointed that the shop could be at risk.

Paul Critchley and his wife said they shop in there all the time and are sad to see the shop potentially leaving the town.

He added: “Businesses these days with the cost of renting spaces it’s hard going.

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“I am really sad about it, it’s been a good shop and you get some good stuff in Wilko.

“Sadly it’s the way forward now, we got lots of charity shops and barbers so it would be a shame to see Wilko go, gutted really.”

Amanda Hardinbrooks, however, said she was not surprised that the chain faced going under, after seeing it drowned out by cheaper alternatives in recent years.

She said: “I don’t really go in there any more.

“It’s become too expensive and now with Home Bargains and B&M it’s become a place I just don’t go into.

“They’ve dominated the area, and Wilko was my go-to shop but not for many years.

“It’s no shock when these big companies go, it’s a hard market.”

Mrs Hardinbrooks added that because Oswestry's branch is so ‘tucked away’ in New Street that she never really thinks about going in anymore.

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The chain's collapse into administration puts 12,000 jobs at 400 stores around the UK at risk.

The chain, which runs more than 400 stores across the UK, told staff on Thursday that it has hired administrators from PwC to oversee the process.

Wilko will continue to trade from all its stores “without any immediate redundancies”, the administrators have said.

Chief executive Mark Jackson said the company had received “a significant level of interest” but was “left with no choice but to take this unfortunate action” after being unable to close a deal in time.

The retailer was founded as a hardware shop in Leicester in 1930, but quickly expanded across the UK, growing into other markets such as garden products and stationery.

Wilko has grown to currently run around 400 stores and employ 12,500 workers.

It launched a turnaround plan earlier this year after its sales and shopper footfall came under pressure as consumer budgets were hammered by the rising cost of living.