Bury’s branch of The Body Shop is set to shut amid a wave of closures all over the country.

The Mill Gate Shopping Centre branch of the health and wellbeing store will be one of 75 closing down over the next four to six weeks.

This means the loss of nearly 500 jobs but administrators claim this will help secure the survival of what is left of the company.

Joint administrator Tony Wright said: “In taking swift action to right-size The Body Shop UK store portfolio, we have stabilised the business and are providing the best opportunity for this iconic brand to have a long-term, sustainable future.

“The UK business continues to trade in administration, and we remain fully focused on exploring all options to take the business forward.”

Elsewhere in the region Body Shop branches in Bolton, Oldham and Blackburn are also set to shut.

Last week administrators announced that seven shops would shut, which has now jumped to 75 around the country.

But joint administrators Tony Wright, Geoff Rowley, and Alastair Massey, appointed by FRP Advisory, say that 116 Body Shop stores across the UK will remain open.

They say they now plan to focus on the brand’s products, online sales channels and wholesale strategies.