SIGNS have gone up at Worcester’s HMV store to announce it is closing.

The Crowngate Shopping Centre store future has been in a doubt for a while, after former owners Hilco appointed administrators KPMG late last year.

At that time a statement Hilco said it had resolved to appoint administrators from KPMG to the business following “extremely weak Christmas footfall.”

Paul McGowan, the former executive chairman of HMV, also said in January: “Even an exceptionally well-run and much-loved business such as HMV cannot withstand the tsunami of challenges facing UK retailers - on top of such a dramatic change in consumer behaviour in the entertainment market.”

But, in February, the High Street store appeared to be safe after it was confirmed the firm was out of administration, after being purchased by Sunrise Records & Entertainment Ltd.

Doug Putman, chief executive of Sunrise, said after that announcement: “We are delighted to acquire the most iconic music and entertainment business in the UK and add nearly 1,500 employees to our growing team

“We know the physical media business is here to stay and we greatly appreciate all the support from the suppliers, landlords, employees and most importantly our customers.”

However it now appears that only staved off the closure temporarily, as signs reading “Store Closing, Everything Must Go” have been put up in the front windows to inform customers it is set to shut its doors.

Yesterday staff at the store said they were not able to comment, and pointed us in the direction of HMV’s head office. Attempts were made to speak to Sunrise, asking when the closing date will be and how many redundancies the closure would lead to, but no one was available for comment.

The first ever HMV store was opened by Worcestershire’s favourite son Edward Elgar who enjoyed a long association with the music store chain.

The world-renowned composer was seen as one of the company’s star performers in the early days when HMV was originally called the Gramophone Company, and it opened the doors to its flagship Oxford Street store.

READ MORE: Worcester's HMV branch set to stay despite nationwide closures