TK Maxx and its subsidiary HomeSense will be closing stores across the country over the next few weeks in a major blow to high streets.

The move comes at a difficult time for businesses across the UK amid the cost of living crisis.

TK Maxx has more than 350 stores and operates 77 Homesense shops. 

In Norfolk, TK Maxx has stores in King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth and Norwich, as well as a HomeSense branch inside one of Norwich's two stores.

According to national reports, the company's Norfolk locations are currently not thought to be affected by the closures.

A number of stores elsewhere are set to shut, however, including a TK Maxx branch in Edinburgh, and HomeSense, a subsidiary which sells homeware, will see shops in Manchester and Swansea shut.

While the stores have closed, TK Maxx continues to open stores at new locations, including at Bromborough in the Wirral and Homesense Altrincham.

Deborah Dolce, Group Director, TJX Europe said: “We are proud of our continued investment in communities across the country through new store openings, store modernisations and relocations.

"Last year we opened two new stores – a TK Maxx in Bromborough and a Homesense in Altrincham. This year, we’re opening another three new TK Maxx stores and a new Homesense store in Stevenage.

"To meet growing customer demand on tkmaxx.com, we’re also opening a new logistics centre in Crewe which will create jobs for the local community. 

"We look forward to bringing new, bright and beautiful TK Maxx and Homesense stores to even more shoppers across the UK and offering great retail careers to those communities.”

The uncertainty follows the recent collapse of high street chain M and Co, which announced the closure of all five of its Norfolk stores earlier this month.

The closures will affect stores in Hunstanton, Fakenham, Cromer, Attleborough and Diss.