THE final 41 Wilko stores sadly closed this weekend, leaving unsecured creditors and suppliers to face losses of around £550 million

The 93-year-old retailer collapsed into administration in August, with almost all of its 12,500 workers being made redundant.

The discount chain was unable to survive after being hit hard by inflationary pressures, competition from rivals and supply chain challenges.

The family firm collapsed owing £625 million, including £548 million to unsecured creditors, documents published on Companies House have revealed.

Knutsford Guardian: Almost all of the 12,500 Wilko workers have been made redundantAlmost all of the 12,500 Wilko workers have been made redundant (Image: PA)

Local firms are among hundreds of companies across the country owed money.

Ardale International Ltd, of Booths Park, Knutsford is owed £240, 871.

This specialist supplier of bin liners, freezer and pet waste bags and shopping bags, declined to comment.

Emerson Management Services Ltd, of Alderley Edge, is owed £38,123.

The property development company told the Guardian that the money related to a Wilko site on Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park in Bolton.

A company spokesman said: “We will be able to mitigate with the letting of the premises and move on.

“We feel very sorry for all the staff who have worked for the company for a long time.”

Originally established by the Wilkinson family in 1930 as Wilkinson Cash Stores, the chain sold homeware and garden furniture at discounted prices.

The company had tried its best to stay afloat.

Administrators PwC were forced to sell off Wilko’s assets after failing to secure a rescue deal for the whole business.

The Wilko store in Winsford closed on September 12.

More than 120 Wilko stores, around a quarter of its estate, have been saved by discount retailing rivals.

B&M bought 51 stores in a deal thought to be worth around £13 million.

The Range bought Wilko’s brand and online assets for around £5 million.

Poundland owner Pepco signed up to buy 71 Wilko stores and has already begun re-opening sites across the UK under the Poundland brand.

Unsecured creditors, who include suppliers, employees and the pension fund, will receive between four and eight per cent of what they are owed by the group’s main Wilko Ltd entity.

Secured creditors will be repaid in full.