A discount retailer in the city centre has closed down in yet another blow for high street shoppers.

Poundland in North Street, Brighton, shut its doors for the final time on Saturday.

Signs on the doors told shoppers the store is permanently closed.

The Argus: Empty shelves at the store before it closedEmpty shelves at the store before it closed (Image: The Argus)

It had been selling its wares for up to 75 per cent off to get rid of as much stock as possible.

Shelves were emptied and whole aisles blocked off while staff took down fittings in the store.

Shoppers looking for discount homewares and DIY items will now have to head to the nearest branches in Western Road and London Road.

It is the second Poundland store to close this year after one at the Bay View Centre in Colwyn Bay, Wales, closed on January 5.

The Argus: Stock was being sold at 75 per cent offStock was being sold at 75 per cent off (Image: The Argus)

A spokesman for Poundland said: “The store closed on February 24 as sadly, we’ve been unable to renew the lease.

"It goes without saying we work hard to find other opportunities for colleagues in these circumstances and we have two other stores close by.

"We look forward to welcoming customers to those stores on London Road and Western Road which are both just a short walk away – they both carry much wider ranges than we could accommodate at North Street.”

But Poundland has also opened up new stores after it took on 71 Wilko sites as part of its expansion plans after its rival collapsed into administration in August.

Former Wilko stores have now opened as Poundland in cities including Newcastle, Leicester and Leeds.

It is another blow to shoppers in Brighton after Kurt Geiger, Sandro and Maje all closed in January.

Councillor Alan Robins, the chairman of the city council’s culture, heritage, sport, tourism and economic committee, previously said: “We all know that high streets across the country have been hit hard in recent years by the rise of internet shopping and the country’s economic difficulties.

“But any talk of ‘the death of the high street’ in Brighton and Hove would be a long way wide of the mark.

“The percentage of vacant shops across our city as a whole is much lower than the national average – at 9.23 per cent compared to national average of 13.8 per cent."

Poundland was contacted for comment.