BHS Stores are due to officially close their doors by the end of the month.

Philip Duffy and Benjamin Wiles, Joint Administrators of BHS, informed employees on July 25 the remaining stores will commence closure sales.

BHS in Watford has not been given a date to when the store will be closing but it is anticipated that failing any last minute rescue attempt the last stores will cease trading by Saturday August 20.

Gerry Clayton, 76, Meridan Estate, Watford, is angry at the owner of the store who had allowed the chain to close.

He said: “It is a disgrace. I am upset the place is closing down.

“Most of the staff members do not know what will happen. I think it should be a criminal offence.

“BHS is part of the fabric of the community. Some people have been working there for 20/30 years and suddenly they do not have a job.

“It is people’s lives and livelihood at stake.”

Former BHS boss Sir Philip Green bought the chain in 2000 with the intention to make it a viable business but within 12 months Sir Philip sold the chain for just £1 to a group of investors.

In Watford, BHS goes from High Street with access through to intu Centre but Solei Watson, of Boundary Road, Watford, does not think a better shop will replace it.

The 30-year-old said: “It is very sad. I shop there regularly. I was shocked when I heard the news it was closing.

“It is a part of the heritage of the town. It is a shop for the whole family and not just for the adults but for the children as well.

“Nothing as good will replace it. The staff were very friendly.

“It is a community shop. A young parents group used to meet upstairs. It is a shame to see it go.”

Former BHS boss Sir Philip Green vowed to sort out the pensions “mess” that followed the collapse of the retailer in May.

Sir Philip is facing pressures to be stripped of his knighthood and to fix the black hole in the fund after a joint report by two Commons select committees.

The two committees - Work and Pensions and Business, Innovation and Skills - accused the entrepreneur of seeking to blame anyone but himself for the firm's failure.

Some members of staff have been working with the store for almost 30 years but others have only been working as a summer job whilst they study.

Karen Narphoqals, 17, who has been working at the store in Watford for only a few months, said: “It is a shame as I was just getting to know everybody.

“It is a massive shame the store is closing.”