THREE sports shops in south Essex could be under threat of closure.

The JJB Sports chain has announced the closure of 72 outlets across the country, with a loss of 800 jobs.

This came after the sportswear company, which operates 420 stores acoss the country, announced profits dropped by 72 per cent last year.

Chief executive Chris Ronnie said: "They are being closed because they are not profitable, and are a huge drain on the business."

The company has stores in Southend High Street, in Southernhay, Basildon, and at Lakeside, in Thurrock.

Richard Farnsworth, a spokesman for the company, said: "I'm afraid we can't disclose where the closures are going to be. The company is in consultation with its staff. All I can tell you is there will be closures.

"A number of closures will be at the smaller high street stores where there are larger JJB superstores nearby.

"These are the combined superstores with retail and health clubs together."

The company has 49 combined gym and shops across the country and plans to open more.

A member of staff at the Southend branch, who asked not to be named, said: "We don't think we're closing, we've heard nothing about it.

"We just heard about it on GMTV."