CARPHONE Warehouse is closing all its standalone stores in the UK next month, resulting in nearly 3,000 redundancies.

The retailer has announced plans to shut all 531 mobile phone stores meaning 2,900 job cuts will be made.

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The closures are not because of the coronavirus.

Owners Dixons Carphone said the shops - which make up around eight per cent of the entire group's selling space - will shut on April 3 as it plans to sell mobile phones solely in its 305 combined Currys PC World stores and online across the UK.

The group's 70 Carphone Warehouse stores in Ireland will remain open and its international operations are unaffected.

Dixons Carphone said the move is "essential" to help turn around its UK mobile arm, which is set to make a £90 million loss this year.

Carphone Warehouse group chief executive Alex Baldock said: "There's never an easy time for an announcement like this, but the turbulent times ahead only underline the importance of acting now."

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He added: "We're working hard to look after those colleagues we can't find new roles for, financially and otherwise.

"We'll pay enhanced redundancy, any bonuses, honour their share awards, and help them find new jobs through an outplacement programme."