Debenhams is set to leave our high streets after being bought by Boohoo, but it is not the first major retailer to shut its Southend and Basildon stores.

Online fashion retailer Boohoo has bought the Debenhams brand for £55million, but it is not set to take on its stores or workforce.

Boohoo is due to relaunch the department store as an online-only operation from next year, meaning the Debenhams stores in Southend and Basildon will cease to exist.

The historic chain is already in the process of closing down, after administrators failed to secure a rescue deal for the business.

Echo: When the business was thriving - winners of the Echo's Help Your Health competition Stephen Rigione and Charlotte Peaford outside the Eastgate Shopping Centre store in 2012When the business was thriving - winners of the Echo's Help Your Health competition Stephen Rigione and Charlotte Peaford outside the Eastgate Shopping Centre store in 2012

As a result, Debenhams will become the latest high street favourite to close its doors to south Essex shoppers.

The likes of Keddies, Woolworths, Havens and Ravens were also favourites before being forced to shut for good.

Echo: Popular - Keddies traded on Southend High Street for 104 years before closing its doors in February 1996Popular - Keddies traded on Southend High Street for 104 years before closing its doors in February 1996 Echo: Legendary sales - customers often queued outside Keddies ahead of the store openingLegendary sales - customers often queued outside Keddies ahead of the store opening Echo: Gong - Ravens, on Clifftown Road, was named Most Innovative Retailer of the Year in 2012Gong - Ravens, on Clifftown Road, was named Most Innovative Retailer of the Year in 2012 Echo: Heading back in time - Ravens was Southend's oldest department store, having been open for 120 years, when it shut for good in 2017Heading back in time - Ravens was Southend's oldest department store, having been open for 120 years, when it shut for good in 2017

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Echo: In the family - Nigel Havens' great-grandfather opened homeware specialist store Havens on Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, in 1901In the family - Nigel Havens' great-grandfather opened homeware specialist store Havens on Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, in 1901 Echo: Boarded up - Woolworths on Southend High Street shortly after its closure in January 2009Boarded up - Woolworths on Southend High Street shortly after its closure in January 2009 Echo: Happy to meet again - a host of former Woolworths employees who worked at the Southend High Street store in the 1950s and 1960s enjoyed a get together at Sands Restaurant in 2012Happy to meet again - a host of former Woolworths employees who worked at the Southend High Street store in the 1950s and 1960s enjoyed a get together at Sands Restaurant in 2012 Echo: Jam-packed - Basildon's beloved SavaCentre welcomed 18,000 customers on its opening day in March 1980Jam-packed - Basildon's beloved SavaCentre welcomed 18,000 customers on its opening day in March 1980 Echo: No longer here - C&A is another much-missed store which thrived on our high street until 2000No longer here - C&A is another much-missed store which thrived on our high street until 2000