By Eric Nicolson

A PERTH bookshop is to close at the end of this month.

Bookworld in St John’s Centre is one of 50 shops owned by a company which is in administration.

Edinburgh’s David Flatman Ltd blamed competition from the internet and supermarkets for the decision.

The firm said it made it increasingly difficult to maintain its large network of High Street shops and was hitting profits.

Administrators said most of the shops will trade while a buyer is sought.

But more than 40 of the firm’s 397 staff are to be made redundant immediately, with eight of its 50 shops closing down.

The company, which was established in 1977, has a turnover of £30 million.

The business grew rapidly by selling established authors and titles at competitive prices.

Joint administrator Tom MacLennan said yesterday, “Bookworld, Bargain Books and bw! are long-established brands in the UK book retailing sector.

“The business has almost single- handedly developed the market for High Street discount book-selling.

“Whilst competition from the internet and supermarkets has triggered the administration, a turnover of £30 million clearly indicates that there is strong demand for discount stores on the High Street.”

He continued, “We will be actively searching for a buyer for the business and will continue to trade.”

Some 44 people are to be made redundant immediately, he said.

“A further four stores will embark upon closing down sales with immediate effect, closing at the end of February, with a further 21 redundancies at that stage.

“We will work closely with appropriate agencies to minimise the impact on those affected and have already begun to market the business for sale.”

The shops closing immediately are in Dumfries, Greenock, Stirling, Inverness, Edinburgh Princes Mall, Harrow, Romford and Tunbridge Wells.

Those in Perth, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow close at the end of the month.