ONE branch of collapsed video rental chain Blockbuster is set to close, while the axe still hangs over another two in south Essex.

The London Road, Westcliff, store is to close within days, along with 29 others across the UK. Branches have been under threat since the firm went into administration in March.

Its stores in Basildon and Stanford-le-Hope were not on the list of closures announced by Moorfields Corporate Recovery yesterday, but the administrators said they might be closing others within weeks.

Joint administrators Simon Thomas and Nick O’Reilly said in a statement: “It is unfortunate we have been unable to secure a buyer to date, and therefore we have had to take the decision to make further store closures.

“We are continuing to review the profitability of the stores and may have to make further closures over the next couple of weeks.”