A new buyer has not yet been found for car and bike accessory retailer Halfords which went bankrupt at the beginning of October, and all but the chain’s 28 franchise operations will remain closed from Tuesday.

Talks are continuing with ‘one serious takeover candidate’ but it will be next week before any deal is reached, the curators say.

The closure Halfords’ 90 high street stores means 450 workers will lose their jobs, unless a buyer is found.

The Dutch Halfords operation separated from the British company of the same name after a management buy-out in 1986.