A High Street chocolatier has announced store closures over the next three years.

Thorntons, which has four stores and outlets in Worcestershire, has said it will shut up to 180 stores nationwide over the next three years, with the majority closing when their leases are up.

However, 60 of these stores will be shut if “opportunities” arise.

In a statement to shareholders, chief executive Jonathan Hart said: “Our goal is to refocus the business across all channels and seek to deliver industry competitive returns over the next three to five years.”

The firm is currently in the process of briefing staff, according to a spokeswoman.

“There’s no detail about which specific stores will be closed,” she said.

There are Thorntons shops in Worcester in the Shambles, in Evesham’s Bridge Street, and outlets at the Card Emporium in Abbey Road, Malvern, and at Smart Ideas in Salters Centre, Droitwich.