Three stores in Weymouth town centre have launched closing down sales as their businesses struggle due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The businesses, all within a five-minute walk of each other, have posted large signage in their storefronts confirming the news.

All of the shops have cited financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic with jobs set to be lost. 

Animal, situated on St Mary Street, has been based within the town centre for a number of years.

The brand has struggled in recent years as the company’s owners, H Young, told staff it was losing money and attempts to save or sell it had been unsuccessful.

H Young announced the fashion chain will close down by the end of January 2021 "as a result of the extremely challenging retail market which has now further worsened due to COVID-19."

Dorset Echo: Peacocks in Weymouth town centre is closing downPeacocks in Weymouth town centre is closing down

Its Weymouth branch will close on Sunday, November 1, with a 50 per cent sale on all items inside.

Queues have been seen outside the branch as Animal enforces a limit on the number of shoppers inside at one time. 

Peacocks has posted large 'closing down sale' signs within its windows with huge discounts on its stock. Its stores in Bridport, Dorchester, Poole and Boscombe are also shutting their doors. 

It comes after its parent company, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, has started to wind down with 24,000 jobs at risk. 

The retail group is owned by British billionaire businessman Philip Day and its revenue in 2019 was £88.7 million, resulting in a net income of £11.9 million.

It has more than 1,000 stores in the UK including 265 Edinburgh Woollen Mill stores and 479 Peacocks outlets.

Dorset Echo: Animal announced it was closing down earlier this monthAnimal announced it was closing down earlier this month

Bonmarché, based on St Mary Street, has also started to wind down as other branches across the country prepare to shut their doors. 

The business was previously in administration last year before being saved by the Edinburgh Woollen Mill group. 

The wave of store closures is a further blow to Weymouth town centre following Cineworld's announcement that its Weymouth cinema, along with other national branches, temporarily shut down. 

Cineworld, which has been open in the town centre for 20 years, closed its doors on Friday, October 9 until further notice. 

What are your thoughts on this? Are you sad to see Animal close down? Are businesses struggling in this area and generally around the town centre? Send me your thoughts at michael.taylor@newsquest.co.uk