Dame Sharon White warned of potential store closures and job losses when she took over from Sir Charlie Mayfield in February at the group, which also owns the grocer Waitrose, as the department store chain was struggling to return to profitability even prior to the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking to City analysts yesterday, White said “no decisions had been taken” on specific store closures but she did not rule out some of the 50 department stores across the UK not reopening once the lockdown is over.